Awards (Professional Recognition)

American Libraries recognizes 12 libraries in its 2024 Library Design Showcase

MBENNETT1 — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:44:04 +0000

American Libraries recognizes 12 libraries in its 2024 Library Design Showcase

CHICAGO - Twelve new and renovated libraries, as well as their architects, have been recognized in American Libraries’ 2024 Library Design Showcase. The showcase appears in the magazine’s September/October issue, available online today.

The 36th annual showcase highlights innovative constructions and remodels across the US and Canada that address patrons’ evolving needs. All projects in this year’s selection were completed between May 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024. The buildings—comprising public and academic libraries and one operations center—demonstrate how libraries are adapting their spaces to better support people, programming, and sustainability efforts.

This year’s featured projects are:

Brown County (Wis.) Library, East branch
Somerville Architects and Engineers

Calgary (Alberta) Public Library, Fish Creek branch
BRZ Partnership Architecture Inc., Carswell Consulting Engineers, and F&D Scene Changes

Georgia State University, North Library Study Commons in Atlanta
PRAXIS3

Grimes (Iowa) Public Library
INVISION

Harvard Medical School, The Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine in Boston
Shepley Bulfinch

Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, Connecticut
QA+M Architecture

Indiana University Bloomington, Education Library
Fanning Howey

Lexington (Ky.) Public Library, Marksbury Family branch
EOP Architects / Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning

Meridian (Idaho) Library District, Orchard Park branch
MSR Design (interior) / CSHQA Inc. (exterior)

Multnomah County (Ore.) Library Operations Center in Portland
Hennebery Eddy Architects

Toronto Public Library, York Woods branch
Diamond Schmitt

Oregon (Wis.) Public Library
OPN Architects

For more information about the Library Design Showcase or to view past selections, visit bit.ly/Design-Showcase

American Libraries is the flagship magazine of the ��Ƶ. For more information, please visit americanlibrariesmagazine.org.

About the ��Ƶ

The ��Ƶ (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ��Ƶhas been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

MBENNETT1 Wed, 08/14/2024 - 13:44

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Publications

Contact:

Megan Bennett

Associate Editor

American Libraries

mbennett@ala.org

6308081575

Aram Public Library receives 2024 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award

ACACKLEY — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:48:45 +0000

Aram Public Library receives 2024 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the ��Ƶ (ALA), has announced that the Aram Public Library is the recipient of the 2024 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award. Established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, this award provides up to $4,000 to an ALSC member’s library to fund a visit from an author/illustrator to speak with children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to hear from a nationally known author/illustrator.

The Aram Public Library in Delavan, Wisconsin, will be hosting author and illustrator Raúl the Third this summer. With this event, the library hopes to “strengthen literacy, artistic creativity and endeavors.” The Aram Public Library will partner with the Delavan-Darien School District and Reads by the River. These community connections will enable them to widely promote the event, host programs in multiple locations, and offer book signings and art kits as a part of the event.

Co-chairs Maren Ostergard and Sarah French noted, “The committee was impressed by the Aram Public Library’s thorough proposal, featuring collaborative partnerships, to host a bilingual author/illustrator who can inspire families with his stories and artwork.”

“We selected Raúl the Third due to his strong artistic and writing endeavors, the dual-language elements and captivating comic-book-like imagery, and because he will appeal to the youth and adults in our community with his Mexican American heritage,” said Katherine Schoofs, Assistant Director/Youth Services Librarian at the Aram Public Library.

Michelle Leo, VP, Director of Education & Library Marketing for Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, said, “We are delighted that Raúl the Third will visit the Aram Public Library because of the Maureen Hayes Award. We are proud to continue to support this worthwhile program that celebrates the love of books and their creators.”

ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.

ACACKLEY Fri, 07/19/2024 - 13:48

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Contact:

Ana Cackley

Awards Coordinator

Association for Library Service to Children

acackley@ala.org

Freedom to Read Foundation Awards Citation honoring Girl Scout Kate Lindley

RAGARCIA — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 21:28:24 +0000

Freedom to Read Foundation Awards Citation honoring Girl Scout Kate Lindley

CHICAGO - Today the Freedom to Read Foundation Board of Trustees announced the award of a special citation to Girl Scout Kate Lindley of Hanover County, Virginia in recognition of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, “Free to Read,” as well as in recognition of her steadfast advocacy on behalf of the freedom to read even as local elected officials censored any mention of her project at a ceremony intended to honor Gold Award winners in her community.

Lindley’s Gold Award project involved the creation of “Banned Book Nooks” and a “Free-to-Read” online app, both designed to assist students and readers in her community access books that had been banned by the Hanover County School Board. The Banned Book Nooks, located in local businesses and supported by community donations, make it possible for students to borrow many of the titles banned from Hanover County school libraries. The “Free to Read” app provides the school board’s flawed reasoning for why the books were banned, why they are valuable, and where readers can still find them in Hanover County. Lindley also created “Talk Totes” containing 10-15 copies of a banned title with discussion questions, and she recruited a network of student ambassadors to distribute the totes in each of the four county high schools.

When it came time for the Hanover County Board of Supervisors to recognize Kate and the other Girl Scouts who earned Gold Awards, the Board of Supervisors refused to acknowledge Kate’s project. While other award winners received proclamations recognizing and detailing their Gold Award projects, Kate instead was given a proclamation that failed to include any mention of censorship or banned books.

Kate bravely stood up to this censorship and refused to be silenced. When it came time to accept her proclamation from the Board of Supervisors, she announced “My name is Kate Lindley and I am from the Ashland District. I would like to let you, the Board of Supervisors, know that you have bestowed upon me the greatest honor you could, greater than that of any proclamation, in your censorship of my Gold Award Project. You have shown the world that you are afraid to call something what it is, be that a banned book or a deselected one. Thank you for this recognition.”

The Freedom to Read Foundation is proud to award a special citation to Kate Lindley for her advocacy on behalf of the freedom to read and her courage in speaking truth to power. The Freedom to Read Foundation will honor Kate on Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Rally for the Right to Read during the ��Ƶ’s Annual Conference in San Diego, California.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the ��Ƶ that is dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read and the right of library workers to serve the information needs of their community. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy.

RAGARCIA Tue, 06/25/2024 - 16:28

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Contact:

Joyce McIntosh

Assistant Program Director

Freedom to Read Foundation

jmcintosh@ala.org

2024 John Cotton Dana Awards Announced

AROBBIN — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 18:59:00 +0000

2024 John Cotton Dana Awards Announced

The 2024 John Cotton Dana (JCD) Award winners, recognized for their strategic communications efforts, have been selected. The John Cotton Dana Awards provide up to eight grants for libraries that demonstrate outstanding library public relations. The award is managed by the Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures division of the ��Ƶ and EBSCO Information Services and consists of $10,000 grants from the H.W. Wilson Foundation.

The 2024 John Cotton Dana Award winners are:

Anchorage Public Library (Anchorage, Alaska)

Campaign: Booch For Books-Library Love in a Can

With a deep understanding of the community they serve and the growing needs of their target audience, the Anchorage Public Library campaign Booch and Books was innovative and creative. Leveraging publicity events paired with personable and approachable creative proved successful in helping them achieve their communication goals. Their campaign evaluation was insightful and top-tier.

Barrie Public Library (Barrie, Ontario Canada)

Campaign: Discover Opportunities with a Barrie Public Library Card

From planning through implementation, Barrie Public Library’s library card sign-up campaign was fun and built upon community spirit and personal connections. Their campaign forged connections within the community through referral cards that were well-designed and truly had the community “sharing the love” of their public library. They were savvy with staff utilization in this multi-channel campaign. Their ongoing evaluation and monitoring led to updating goals and invigorating staff for a highly successful campaign.

Curtis Memorial Library (Brunswick, Maine)

Campaign: Make Way for Visitors!

Like many libraries, Curtis Memorial Library tried many things to bring visitor and new cardholder numbers---and corresponding municipal funding amounts---back to 2019 levels. It wasn't until the library hosted an exhibit of work from the late Robert McCloskey (Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal), raised private funds and partnered with community and city organizations that things really took off. By mounting a campaign to promote the exhibit in multiple venues and formats, new cardholder, visitor and circulation numbers all exceeded 2019 levels and the library received local, statewide and national media attention.

Orange County Library System (Orlando, Florida)

Campaign: Bright Past, Bright Future

In 2023, the Orange County Library System celebrated its 100th birthday. The library built a campaign that brought awareness and engagement about their major milestone. They connected the present-day library to its history in a meaningful way, generating interest in, and enthusiasm for, the library’s modern mission. Using a combination of public relations events aimed at VIPs, an engagement campaign directed at existing customers and a traditional advertising campaign to educate the public, they boosted library use, new card signups and overall community engagement.

Richmond Hill Public Library (Richmond Hill, Ontario Canada)

Campaign: Richmond Hill Public Library ReBrand

With a need to rebrand, the library developed a campaign that challenged preconceptions and embraced innovation. Their “Yes, at the Library” messaging effectively invited the community to rethink what a library means in today’s world, resulting in an increase of 32% in their patron’s positivity during that single year. The campaign not only showcased what today’s library looks like in terms of design, but also created measurable buy-in from staff and residents within the diverse community, helping mend a major disconnect between the library’s values and the way community members perceived the library as a whole.

Salt Lake County Library (West Jordan, Utah)

Campaign: All-Star Winter Reading Program is a Slam Dunk

With a need to increase winter reading participation, the library created and executed a campaign centered around their NBA team, Utah Jazz. Their campaign used eye-catching visuals like life-size cutouts of Jazz players and shoe prints to attract children to the program. The team also used a variety of marketing techniques and impressive messaging to promote the program. The library incentivized children to complete the reading challenge like basketball-themed prize books, a mascot event and a raffle to win tickets to a future Utah Jazz game. This campaign resulted in a 52% participation.

Spokane Public Library (Spokane, Washington)

Campaign: Be Your Best Self

As the guides to help residents of their service area be the heroes of their own stories, Spokane Public Library set a goal to reach one million residents with the transformational power of the library. Their "Be Your Best Self" campaign, anchored by a video with a custom song, and utilizing multiple print and digital channels and a Library Learning Week event collection to help people see themselves and their futures in the context of the library. The campaign resulted in 1.2 million impressions (in a community with a population of just 260,000), increased door counts by 29% during Library Learning Week and clinched a library levy renewal.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma, Washington)

Campaign: You’re Due for a New Adventure at Tacoma Public Library

With creativity, dedication and collaborative spirit, the library set out to increase library card signups throughout their service area. The campaign's success is evident in the positive responses and enthusiasm expressed on social media, reflecting the impact the team has made on the community. The library’s efforts have resulted in increased program attendance, greater awareness of the library and the establishment of strong partnerships with various organizations and businesses. The team's dedication to showcasing the library's diverse offerings and reaching a wider audience has paid with an increase of 14.5% library card signups.

2024 Selection Committee

The 2024 John Cotton Dana Award selection committee included: Gregg Dodd (chair), Director of Marketing & Communications, Columbus Metropolitan Library; Kelly Sitzma (vice chair), Director of Communications & Employee Development, Pioneer Library System; Martha Alvarado Anderson, Digital Services Librarian, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; Chris Boivin, Assistant Director of Community Relations and Marketing, Jacksonville Public Library; Jennifer Brandon, Reference Librarian/Digital Interface Designer, Michigan State University Libraries; and Theresa Davis, Communications Manager, Fort Worth Public Library.

John Cotton Dana
The JCD award is named after John Cotton Dana (1859–1929), the father of the modern library, who is credited with helping transition libraries from reading rooms to community centers. JCD submissions include strategic library communications campaigns from libraries of all types and sizes. In recognition of the achievement, JCD Award winners receive a cash development award from the H.W. Wilson Foundation. The John Cotton Dana Awards will be presented during an awards ceremony hosted by EBSCO Information Services held during this year’s ��ƵAnnual Conference.

About the H.W. Wilson Foundation
The Foundation was established by Halsey W. Wilson in 1952 to support the needs of company employees and retirees. Since 1957, The H.W. Wilson Foundation has focused on providing financial assistance to causes having the greatest impact on improving the spirit, mind and body of the greatest number of people through aid, support and cooperation with charitable, benevolent, educational and religious institutions. Major donors to the Foundation included Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Wilson, and the H.W. Wilson Company.

About Core
Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy and learning. Core is a division of the ��Ƶ. Follow us on our Blog, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is a leading provider of online research content and search technologies serving academic, school and public libraries; healthcare and medical institutions; corporations; and government agencies around the world. From research, acquisition management, subscription services and discovery to clinical decision support and patient care, learning, and research and development, EBSCO provides institutions with access to content and resources to serve the information and workflow needs of their users and organizations. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com.

AROBBIN Tue, 06/18/2024 - 13:59

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Awards (Scholarships & Grants)

Contact:

Amber Robbin

Membership and Marketing Manager

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures

arobbin@ala.org

IIDA Announces Winners of the 2024 Library Interior Design Awards

AROBBIN — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:18:45 +0000

IIDA Announces Winners of the 2024 Library Interior Design Awards

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Library Interior Design Awards. This biennial competition recognizes excellence in library interior design and promotes examples of extraordinary design reflected through innovative concepts in nine categories.

The recipients of the 2024 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards are:

Academic Libraries—30,000 Square Feet and Under

Project: Georgia State University Library North Study Commons
Firm: PRAXIS3 Architecture + Multidisciplinary Design
Location: Atlanta, GA

Academic Libraries—Over 30,000 Square Feet

Project: Weldon Library Revitalization
Firm: Perkins&Will
Location: London, Canada

Project: Tec de Monterrey CCM BiblioTec
Firm: The Beck Group
Location: Ciudad de México, México

On the Boards

Project: Gateway Public Library
Firm: Richärd Kennedy Architects / White Baux Studio
Location: Mesa, AZ

Project: Columbus Metropolitan Library Marion-Franklin Branch
Firm: EVOKE Studio + Schooley Caldwell
Location: Columbus, OH

Outstanding Historic Renovation Project

Project: Western Kentucky University Commons at Helm Library
Firm: Gensler in collaboration with Luckett & Farley
Location: Bowling Green, KY

Public Libraries—30,000 Square Feet and Under

Project: Pleasant Hill Library
Firm: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA

Project: The Indianapolis Public Library – West Perry Branch
Firm: HBM Architects, LLC
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Public Libraries—Over 30,000 Square Feet

Project: The Shanghai Library East
Firm: Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Location: Shanghai, China

Project: Missoula Public Library Downtown Flagship Library & Culture House
Firm: MSR Design
Location: Missoula, MT

Single Space

Project: Robarts Library Reading Room
Firm: Superkül
Location: Toronto, Canada

Winners will receive their awards on Saturday, June 29 at 1pm PST during the 2024 ��ƵAnnual Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, CA. For questions or more information, contact competitions@iida.org.

IIDA is the commercial interior design association with global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well- being of people’s lives every day.

AROBBIN Mon, 06/17/2024 - 21:18

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Annual Conference

Contact:

Amber Robbin

Membership & Marketing Manager

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures

arobbin@ala.org

Nominate your librarian for the national I Love My Librarian Award

RAGARCIA — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:30:25 +0000

Nominate your librarian for the national I Love My Librarian Award

CHICAGO – The ��Ƶ (ALA) invites library users nationwide to nominate their favorite librarians for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. The national award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college or university libraries. Nominations are accepted online now through Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.

Ten librarians will each receive $5,000 in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Awardees will be honored at the I Love My Librarian Award ceremony at the 2025 LibLearnX Conference in Phoenix; honorees will also receive free full conference registration as part of their award packages.

Since the award was established in 2008, library users nationwide have submitted more than 22,000 nominations detailing how librarians transformed their communities through innovative programs, increasing access to resources and services, and promoting literacy. 160 librarians have received this distinguished honor.

Among last year’s honorees are Diana Haneski, a school librarian at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, who has helped her community navigate the trauma following the 2018 mass shooting at the school; Gladys López-Soto, an academic librarian at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, who helps students and entrepreneurs understand intellectual property; and Mychal Threets, a former public librarian at Solano County Library in Fairfield, CA, and viral sensation who uses social media to spread “library joy.”

Full eligibility criteria, as well as tips for writing a strong nomination, are available on the award website.

The philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York has generously sponsored the I Love My Librarian Award since its inception. The New York Public Library is also a supporter of the award. The award is administered by the ��Ƶ.

About the ��Ƶ
The ��Ƶ is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ��Ƶhas been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.

About The New York Public Library
For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives millions of visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.

RAGARCIA Mon, 06/17/2024 - 11:30

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Public Awareness

Contact:

Raymond Garcia

Communications Specialist

Communications, Marketing, and Media Relations Office

cmomedia@ala.org

Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Core Career LIFT Award

AROBBIN — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:19:25 +0000

Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Core Career LIFT Award

CHICAGO--
Congratulations to the 2024 recipients of the Core Career LIFT Award. The recipients are:

Kristin Lansdown
LIFT Award Sponsored by OCLC

In her position as the Librarian and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Coordinator, Kristin serves on the University Library’s Administration Team and Library Council.

As an early career librarian, Kristin is looking for opportunities to expand her network with a focus on moving into leadership. She notes that she “has worked diligently to develop strategic partnerships … to promote retention for low-income, first-generation, and students of color.”

When notified she had won, Kristin responded, "I'm so honored to receive the Core Career LIFT Award! Thank you for recognizing and celebrating the work I do every day. As an early career librarian, I’m grateful for the Core LIFT Award's support in pursuing professional development opportunities to expand my network and broaden my leadership skill set."

Kristin plans to use the funds to attend ACRL 2025 in Minneapolis next year.

Enito Mock
LIFT Award Sponsored by OCLC

As the Assistant Director of Acquisitions at the New York Public Library, Enito shared a story of their very inclusive leadership style. They emphasized a need for PEACE (Proactive, Equity, Accountability, Communication and Cooperation, and Evaluation) in order to have a safe and equitable environment for the entire team. Enito plans to use the award to further their education in Acquisitions and management including continuing goals to learn more from colleagues and other professionals in technical services.

In response to receiving the award, Enito said, "I am very humbled and honored to receive the Core Career LIFT Award this year and thrilled for the opportunity to learn from distinguished library and information professionals about their work and passions."

With this award, Enito plans to take advantage of the many course offerings available through the ��ƵeLearning website, including the Fundamentals of Cataloging course and networking opportunities at future conferences such as the Core Forum this Fall. They are especially excited about participating in LibLearnX 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, where they’ll participate in hands-on workshops and engage in meaningful dialogue with librarians from all over the world.

Anne Morgan
LIFT Award Sponsored by EBSCO

Anne’s goal is to continue to develop professionally as an early-career librarian in her current role as Metadata Librarian at Villanova University. In order to improve her skills, Anne would like to be more involved with ��Ƶby attending conferences and learning opportunities. In anticipation of moving the library to a new building, Anne is participating in a massive weeding project at her library that includes a lot of physical labor as well as work to make sure the records are correct in their Folio catalog.

Upon learning that her application was selected, Anne said, “I'm very grateful to receive this award and for the financial support. My goal is to continue to develop professionally as an early-career librarian, and to continually improve my metadata management skills. I believe that membership in Core and ��Ƶis important in order for me to do this. Accordingly, I plan to use the award funds for multiple years of ��Ƶand Core membership dues, in addition to other professional development opportunities.”

Rachel Wells
LIFT Award Sponsored by Lyrasis

As an early-career Reference Librarian at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Rachel is focused on gaining skills and seeking professional development opportunities. Rachel provided an impressive chart that broke down exactly how she’d spend the money from the award to further her participation in ��Ƶand Core and to further her knowledge by taking courses in the Fundamentals series offered by Core. By working in a specialized museum, it requires more persuasion to acquire needed funding for the library, especially including professional development for the few library staff members. Rachel was also named a 2023 Core Emerging Leader.

Upon her acceptance, Rachel said, “I am honored and humbled to be selected for the 2024 Core Career LIFT Award! I am looking forward to using the funds to attend future ��Ƶevents and pursue continuing education courses.”

Core is dedicated to cultivating and amplifying the collective expertise of library workers in core functions and we recognize the importance of the everyday work of our practitioners. Recipients receive $1,500 to attend an ��Ƶconference, the Core Forum, or to take a continuing education class to grow their skill sets and careers. The award is designed to support information professionals whose passion, actions, and everyday work warrants recognition and celebration. We honor the critical labor that goes into organizing, managing, and maintaining core library services. LIFT stands for Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures.

Applications for the 2025 Career LIFT Award will open in January.

Members of the 2024 Core Career LIFT Award Committee are: Gabrielle Wiersma (chair), Jennifer Donner, Robin L. Ewing, Amy I. Kornblau, Timothy Ryan Provenzano, Kelly J. Sattler, Mea Warren.

About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.

About EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is a leading provider of online research content and search technologies serving academic, school and public libraries; healthcare and medical institutions; corporations; and government agencies around the world. From research, acquisition management, subscription services and discovery to clinical decision support and patient care, learning, and research and development, EBSCO provides institutions with access to content and resources to serve the information and workflow needs of their users and organizations. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com.

About Lyrasis
Lyrasis is a community-supported non-profit whose mission is to support enduring access to our shared academic, scientific and cultural heritage for archives, libraries, museums and research communities. With more than 80 years of experience, Lyrasis offers technologies, services and special programs designed by and for knowledge professionals and brings together more than 3000 collections-holding organizations worldwide for collaboration, innovation and scale. Lyrasis is the organizational home to ArchivesSpace, BiblioLabs, CollectionSpace, DSpace, Fedora, VIVO, ORCID US and The Palace Project. For more information, visit the Lyrasis website at: www.lyrasis.org.

AROBBIN Fri, 06/14/2024 - 16:19

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Annual Conference

Awards (Scholarships & Grants)

Contact:

Amber Robbin

Membership and Marketing Manager

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures

arobbin@ala.org

The 2024 recipients of the Core Career LIFT Award, starting in the upper left corner moving clockwise: Kristin Lansdown (sponsored by OCLC), Enito Mock (sponsored by OCLC), Rachel Wells (sponsored by Lyrasis), and Anne Morgan (sponsored by EBSCO).

Madison Leigh Comer Awarded the 2024 Core Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship

AROBBIN — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:11:07 +0000

Madison Leigh Comer Awarded the 2024 Core Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship

CHICAGO--Madison Leigh Comer has been selected to receive the 2024 Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship in Library and Information Technology ($3,000), sponsored by Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures and Baker & Taylor.

This scholarship is for master’s level study, with an emphasis on library technology and/or automation, at a library school program accredited by the ��Ƶ. Criteria for the Scholarship includes previous academic excellence, evidence of leadership potential, and a commitment to a career in library automation and information technology.

The Larew Scholarship Committee was impressed with Comer’s strong academic record and her work at the New London County Historical Society as both an Intern, and then as the Development Manager. As an intern, she assisted with archival, educational, research, develop, and outreach programs including exhibit building, curricula development, collection management, research assistance, membership outreach, fundraising events, and social media content. In her role as Development Manager, she wrote grant requests resulting in over $33,500 in funds; raised over $6,000 in sponsorship for annual fall fundraiser; produced the spring Annual Appeal letter doubling donations from the previous year; managed funding reports and updated contributor records. In this role, she also helped devise a strategic plan for digitizing the archive.

Comer studied abroad in Greece in 2022, and in 2023 she joined the College Year in Athens (CYA). She was invited to be the student representative on the planning committee for CYA’s new library and study center, requiring her input on the center’s architectural design, collaborative spaces, as well as programming such as academic service and inter-collegiate collaboration. In addition, she joined the CYA cohort of classics post-baccalaureate where she then worked as a library assistant. This role required tasks such as updating accessibility services, programming the CYA Library Week, digital cataloging, and working on a digital humanities project translating and archiving ancient monuments.

When notified she had won, Comer said, “I am delighted to be awarded this year’s Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship. This honorable award will immensely help in funding my education as an incoming graduate student in Simmons University’s Master of Library Science program. I look forward to building upon and expanding my skills and knowledge in the concentrations of digital humanities, archives, and cultural heritage informatics as I prepare to face challenges in the library and information science field as it continues to evolve.”

Members of the 2024 Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship Committee are: Jennifer Culley (Chair), Dale Poulter (Vice-Chair), Bethann Rea, Diana Silveira, Elizabeth Lightfoot, Jill Crane, and Joy DuBose.

About Baker & Taylor
Founded in 1828, Baker & Taylor has a long and storied history serving libraries. As a leading supplier, the company is well known and trusted for carrying the materials libraries need while innovating and bringing unique digital and software products to customers worldwide. Backed by comprehensive logistics and unparalleled customer support, Baker & Taylor empowers libraries to enrich their collections, engage patrons, and nurture literacy and lifelong learning. Learn more at www.baker-taylor.com.

AROBBIN Wed, 06/12/2024 - 11:11

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Contact:

Amber Robbin

Membership & Marketing Manager

��Ƶ

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures

arobbin@ala.org

Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read

JCELINDRO — Fri, 31 May 2024 17:42:47 +0000

Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read

CHICAGO — The ��Ƶ (ALA) and Unite Against Book Bans will host a second annual Rally for the Right to Read: Voters Unite Against Book Bans at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Friday, June 28, 2024.

Part of the 2024 ��ƵAnnual Conference & Exhibition, June 27 – July 2, the program will gather librarians and Unite Against Book Bans partners from across sectors and across the country, from publishers to authors, from educators to parents, from library workers to library patrons. Organizations across multiple fields and sectors are joining to stand up for the right to read. The rally will highlight anti-censorship activities from around the nation and celebrate the 2024 recipients of ALA’s signature intellectual freedom awards.

Nationally renowned writer, cultural critic and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Hanif Abdurraqib will deliver the keynote address.

The event will honor the courage and resilience of America's librarians and their commitment to protect the freedom to read during a period of unprecedented attacks. The Rally for the Right to Read will recognize the 2024 recipients of the Freedom to Read Foundation's Roll of Honor Award, the Eli M. Oboler Award, the John Phillip Immroth Award and the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award.

“Library workers nationwide continue to provide access for their communities in the face of book bans and censorship,” said ��ƵPresident Emily Drabinski. “The Annual Rally for the Right to Read brings together library workers and advocates to reflect, recharge and refocus our energy on protecting the freedom to read. ��Ƶand our anti-censorship partners across industries are incredibly appreciative of the talented Hanif Abdurraqib for joining us and using his voice to Unite Against Book Bans!”

Hanif Abdurraqib is an award-winning poet, essayist and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio, and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Genius grant. His most recent book, There’s Always This Year, was an instant New York Times, USA Today and Indie Next bestseller. A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance was a National Book Award Finalist and the winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. His other acclaimed works include They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest.

The Rally for the Right to Read begins with a reception at 7:00 p.m. and the program at 8:00 p.m. All ��ƵAnnual Conference attendees are invited to attend; conference badges are required. Admission is free, and donations to the Unite Against Book Bans campaign are encouraged.

Bringing together thousands of librarians and library staff, authors, publishers, educators and exhibitors, the ��ƵAnnual Conference & Exhibition is the largest library event in the world.

JCELINDRO Fri, 05/31/2024 - 12:42

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Annual Conference

Contact:

Ian Ware

Communications Manager

��Ƶ

Public Policy & Advocacy

iware@alawash.org

Kent County Public Library to receive 2024 Citation for Wellness in the Workplace

DALDERSON — Tue, 21 May 2024 20:55:54 +0000

Kent County Public Library to receive 2024 Citation for Wellness in the Workplace

CHICAGO - Kent County Public Library is honored for its commitment to wellness as a strategic priority, earning the 2024 Citation for Wellness in the Workplace.

Over the past three years, the Kent County Public Library has increased their staff levels, ensured increasing compensation, and prioritized team building at the organizational level. In considering the holistic well-being of their staff, they have added more personal leave and leave for professional development, added more leave use categories, implemented initiatives like “Early Release Fridays” during the summer, and developed a telework policy. The intentional initiatives and policies supported by their leadership in recent years have improved staff’s work-life balance and encouraged professional development.

These developments and more showcase the Kent County Public Library’s enduring dedication to the overall well-being of its employees. SustainRT acknowledges the profound impact of integrating wellness practices into policy and applauds the culture of wellness that the Kent County Public Library is fostering in its workplace through this citation.

About the Sustainability Round Table

The mission of the organization is to provide resources for the library community to support sustainability through curriculum development; collections; exhibits; events; advocacy, communication, library buildings and space design. SustainRT is open to all ��Ƶmembers and will include both individual members and organizational members.

DALDERSON Tue, 05/21/2024 - 15:55

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Contact:

Tera Ray

Awards Chair

SustainRT

taray@valdosta.edu