Contact: Jenifer Grady
ALA-APA Director
312-280-2424
jgrady@ala.org

For Immediate Release,
November 15, 2007

Nominees Sought for $5,000 Award

The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) is seeking nominees from both individuals and organizations that have made a positive change in the salaries or status of librarians and/or support staff. The Award Jury is looking forward to receiving the stories of champions that have had a local, regional or national impact. The winner will receive a $5000 award, courtesy of the SirsiDynix Corporation. Each candidate must have three nominations, using the electronic application form at www.ala-apa.org/salaries/sirsidynixnominationform.html. The deadline is Friday, Dec. 14.

Nominations will be reviewed by the Award Jury, chaired by John Jessee of the Jacksonville (Fla.) Public Library, at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in January 2008 in Philadelphia. The winner(s) will be honored at the Annual Conference in June 2008 in Anaheim, Calif.

The 2006-2007 jury was struck by the variety and depth of the actions leading to salary improvements in each nomination, finally narrowing the winners to three: Alachua County Library District (Fla.), Connie Vinita Dowell (San Diego State University) and Theresa McMahan (Sullivan County Library System, Tenn.). Alachua County Library District (ALCD) impressed the award jury because it conducted a detailed compensation study that resulted in salary adjustments for all staff. Dowell, dean of the San Diego State University (SDSU) Library and Information Access Department, worked proactively in a public university setting to find ways to reward and recognize deserving employees who took on additional duties and responsibilities during hard economic times. McMahan, then assistant director, pushed for raises for librarians, catalogers and part-time staff  by informing the library board and county commissioners about the duties of her staff.

The Award Jury encourages the library community to nominate staff and libraries of all sizes that are actively working on every level to secure equitable pay for people in librarianship. Please submit three strong letters of support, since only the first three received will be reviewed. Self-nominations are permitted. Supporting documents may be emailed to ALA-APA, faxed to 312-280-5013 or mailed to SirsiDynix Award, ALA-APA, 50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611.

The recipient of the award does not have to be an ALA member or a current or past library staff member. The requirement is that the award recipient's achievement(s) has been notable. Officers of the ALA or the ALA-Allied Professional Association are not eligible for the award, nor are members of the Jury, ALA-APA Standing Committee on the Salaries and Status of Library Workers or employees of SirsiDynix.

The ALA-APA Dynix Award Jury and employees of the SirsiDynix Corporation are not eligible for this award. The SirsiDynix Corporation is a leading provider of information technology to libraries and consortia worldwide.

For more information, contact jgrady@ala.org.