ASCLA selects its 2016 award winners

CHICAGO —  The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) 2016 Award winners have been selected. The awards program recognizes outstanding achievement within the library profession by librarians and libraries for significant current or past achievements, including publications, program development and leadership in the profession.

The Awards Ceremony and Reception will be held from 5:45 – 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 25 during the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Room Plaza BR D. This event is co-sponsored by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) and the Federal and Armed Forces Librarians Round Table (FAFLRT) and will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. All conference attendees are welcome!

The following recipients will be honored.

Chris Corrigan, digital reference librarian of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, is the 2016 recipient of the Cathleen Bourdon Service Award, which is named after former ASCLA Executive Director Cathleen Bourdon. Chris was chosen for his sustained leadership and exceptional service enhancing the stature, strength and reputation of ASCLA to ALA Council, ALA Membership, and other ALA-affiliated organizations.

The recipient of the 2016 ASCLA Leadership and Professional Achievement Award is Cal Shepard, state librarian, State Library of North Carolina. Shepard is recognized for her many years of service to the library profession and is specifically being honored for her accomplishment at the State Library of North Carolina in formulating a sunset plan to transition Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding for two large State Library projects to state funding. Through her leadership and vision, she opened up LSTA funding to be used by libraries across the state.

Kate DeVoe, youth services librarian and Kelly Doolittle, library assistant, both of Tompkins County Public Library (New York) are the recipients of the 2016 ASCLA/Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS) & National Organization on Disability (NOD) Award. They are recognized for providing vital services to children through their project, “Adapt and Include: Library Programs for Children with Sensory Integration Challenges.” The award consists of $1,000 and a citation supported by Kay and David Holloman of Keystone Systems, developer of the Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS), and the National Organization on Disability.

Stephen Prine, assistant chief, Network Division, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, is the recipient of ASCLA’s 2016 Francis Joseph Campbell Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of library service for people with physical disabilities and/or physical impairments. Prine is recognized for his many years of exemplary service to the print disabled community, as well as to his colleagues across the country and within ASCLA.

The 2016 ASCLA Exceptional Service Award is presented to the Marshes of Glynn Library System in Brunswick, Georgia for implementing the ALA Every Child Ready to Read program at their local jail. This innovative project teaching incarcerated parents and other caregivers how to support the early literacy development of their children is an exceptional example of how libraries can transform lives.  It also serves as an example of a program able to be replicated in other libraries.

ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is a diverse organization of librarians and support staff who work in academic and public libraries, state agencies, specialized libraries and multi-type cooperatives, as well as those who are self-employed. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, ASCLA preconferences, and other ASCLA events? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.