PLA awards nomination deadline approaching

Contact: Louisa Worthington
PLA, Marketing Manager
312-280-5024
lworthington@ala.org

NEWS
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008

CHICAGO - The deadline to nominate colleagues and public libraries for a 2009 Public Library Association (PLA) Award is quickly approaching. PLA members submit an awards application through the PLA website at http://www.pla.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaawards/index.cfm. The deadline for submitting an application is Dec. 15.

PLA Awards are designed to highlight the best in public library service and honor those whose vision and accomplishments in public libraries are extraordinary and deserve recognition by their peers. Many of the awards are competitive and include an honorarium; please visit the website for details on each award.

The awards include:

  • Advancement of Literacy Award honors a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of adult literacy.
  • Allie Beth Martin Award honors a librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary depth of knowledge about books or library materials and has the distinguished ability to share that knowledge.
  • Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award promotes the development of a circulating Audio Music/Video collection in a public library
  • Charlie Robinson Award honors a public library director who, over a period of seven years, has been a risk taker, an innovator and/or a change agent in a public library.
  • DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant serves to enhance the professional development of new public librarians by making possible their attendance at professional development activities.
  • EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Library Service Award honors a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service.
  • Gordon M. Conable Award honors a public library staff member, a library trustee, or a public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom.
  • Highsmith Library Innovation Award, recognizes a library’s innovative and creative service program to the community.
  • Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award, recognizes a library worker, librarian or library that has used technology as a tool to improve services.

An award jury appointed by the PLA President will review each nomination and select a recipient at the ALA 2009 Midwinter Meeting. Award winners will be announced in February 2009, and each award will be presented at the PLA President’s Reception and Awards Presentation held Monday, July 13, during the ALA 2009 Annual Conference in Chicago.

For more information, contact the PLA office, (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or by email pla@ala.org. To apply or nominate a colleague for an award, visit the website at www.pla.org.

PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve, and its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.