Awards Manual

Overview

The ALA Awards Committee is responsible for providing recommendations to the Executive Board and the ALA Council regarding all policies concerning ALA distinguished service, exemplary accomplishment, and/or achievement awards, as well as ALA book/media awards that are to be presented or supported by ALA and its affiliated units.

The committee is tasked with overseeing the ALA General Awards, which honor exceptional contributions to the library profession as recognized by the American Library Association. It will propose to the ALA Council the establishment of new ALA General Awards. The committee is also responsible for regularly evaluating, or upon request, the relevance of existing ALA General Awards, suggesting modifications, eliminations, or suspensions as needed. It will facilitate collaboration between the award committee and juries. is responsible for maintaining and updating the ALA Awards Manual, which includes information on awards presented by ALA or its affiliated organizations. The committee will provide general guidance on the procedural aspects of the Awards Program, including information on deadlines and publicity announcements. As appropriate, the committee will work with various departments within the Association to ensure the accurate tracking, statistics, and other pertinent information related to awards sponsored by ALA and its affiliated entities.

ALA Unit Awards

ALA Unit Awards are defined as an Award managed by an Office, Division, or Round Table of ALA. Each ALA unit is responsible for creating new awards that align with its area of focus. These awards, known as "ALA Unit Awards" must follow the overall ALA Awards policies. Each unit must regularly assess the relevance of its current awards and make necessary adjustments, including discontinuing or suspending existing awards. The unit will be responsible for managing all aspects and costs related to its awards.

Other Unit Award Responsibilities

Each division or unit of the ALA is tasked with managing the awards it offers, in accordance with the overarching ALA policies that regulate awards. The ALA Awards Committee shall evaluate and offer support to the unit regarding procedural inquiries and collaboration with other units.

Each unit shall be responsible for:

Regularly assess the relevance of its current award(s) and provide a report on this assessment to the ALA Awards Committee.
Remove or temporarily halt any current awards and inform the Chair of the ALA Awards Committee and the Staff Liaison of this decision.
Manage all aspects and costs associated with its award(s).
An electronic version of the proposal for new awards or modifications to current unit awards must be submitted to the ALA staff liaison at least one month before a scheduled Committee meeting.

ALA General Awards

ALA General Awards are defined as the following recognition Awards, which is under the purview of the ALA Awards Committee:

Beta Phi Mu Award
W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award for Excellence in Military Fiction
ALA Medal of Excellence
Ernest A. DiMattia Jr. Award for Innovation and Services to Community
EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award
ALA Information Today Library of the Future Award
Joseph W. Lippincott Award
Scholastic Library Publishing Award
Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity
Schneider Family Book Awards
Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship
Paul Howard for Courage (bi-annually)

The American Library Association annually recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to libraries and librarianship through its awards program. These awards highlight exceptional achievements in various areas of librarianship, creating a prestigious "hall of fame" for the profession. The juries tasked with selecting the winners uphold the high standards set by previous committees, ensuring that only those who have significantly advanced the goals of the profession are honored.

The management of the ALA general awards and grants falls under the authority of the Awards Committee, which is appointed by the President-elect and sanctioned by the Executive Board. The Chair of the ALA Awards Committee is responsible for appointing juries that determine the recipients of the ALA general awards and, in collaboration with the staff liaison, oversees the activities of these juries.

There is no restriction on the quantity of ALA general awards and grants that can be created, however, it is anticipated that the number will be kept low to maintain the prestige of the existing awards. The minimum amount for ALA Recognition Awards is $5,000, while for Grants, it is $10,000. Offices, Divisions, and Round Tables are not ALA association-wide awards and are not required to meet the minimum monetary amounts.

Every award must acknowledge accomplishments within the profession. The ALA Awards Program should encompass all facets of the profession, while ensuring that there is no redundancy in closely related categories.

Return to top of page

ALA Awards Committee

The Awards Committee oversees the coordination and management of the ALA Awards Program. The Staff Liaison collaborates closely with the chair of the Awards Committee to ensure effective administration and policy guidance. It is important to note that award juries and committees from any unit or division operate autonomously and are not considered subcommittees of the Awards Committee.

Composition and Appointment

The Awards Committee is comprised of nine members who are appointed by the Committee on Appointments, subject to the approval of the Executive Board. Both Award Committee members and general members may suggest candidates for appointment. It is essential that the Committee reflects the diverse interests of different library types and activities, ensuring a broad geographical representation among its members. Individuals who are donors or sponsors of ALA Awards are ineligible for appointment to the ALA Awards Committee.

Members serve two-year terms and may be reappointed for a second consecutive term, but not for a third. The chair is designated annually by the President-elect of the Executive Board. If a vacancy arises on the Committee, the Executive Board appoints a new member to fill the position. This appointee is expected to serve until the end of the conference year in which the vacancy occurs, at which point a new appointment will be made to fill the remaining term.

Committee Meetings

The Committee convenes either online or at the Annual Conference of the Association. The chairperson may schedule extra meetings as needed. It is highly encouraged to attend the initial introductory committee meeting.
Members will utilize the Zoom platform and ALA Connect to communicate during committee discussions.
Members are required to inform the Chair and the Staff Liaison promptly if they are unable to attend any scheduled meeting. Please be aware that failing to notify the Chair and missing three (3) consecutive meetings will result in your status being classified as inactive, and a replacement may be sought.
A sitting committee member will draft the minutes, which will then be reviewed and approved during the next committee meeting.
As ALA policy, closed meetings may be held only for the discussion of matters affecting the privacy of individuals or institutions.

Responsibility of the Awards Committee

Members of the Awards Committee are responsible for:

The ALA Awards are responsible for overseeing the distribution of general awards and grants on behalf of the American Library Association. However, Honorary Members nominated by the Executive Board and approved by ALA Council are an exception to this process.
Providing suggestions to Council regarding all policies concerning awards given or supported by ALA and its divisions.
Propose to the ALA Council the establishment of new ALA General Awards. Notify the Council of all new general awards before their implementation date.
Regularly evaluation, or upon request, the relevance of existing ALA General Awards, suggesting modifications, eliminations, or suspensions as needed.
Conducting a review of the current ALA Awards every three years to ensure alignment with ALA's goals and objectives, as well as consistency in their application. The reports from jury chairs serve as essential information for this evaluation.
Working with other units of the Association to coordinate tracking, statistics, and other information about all awards sponsored by ALA and its units.
Responsible for the maintenance and updating of the ALA Awards Manual, which contains details on awards given by ALA or its affiliated units.
Offering overall direction on the procedural elements of the Awards Program, including details on deadline dates and publicity releases.
Promoting the awards program by pre-announcing the awards to be given each year and disclosing the names of all winners once the selections have been finalized.
Participating in an ALA Awards jury, as needed. In cases where juries lack sufficient members, a previous member of the Awards Committee could be selected.
Promoting and putting forth nominations.

Duties of the Award Committee Chair

It is the duty of the Chair to:

Organize Committee meetings as necessary throughout the year. The Staff Liaison is tasked with scheduling Zoom meetings, filling out Meeting Request Forms, and submitting all Annual Conference requests to Conference Services.
1. Meetings are held to discuss new award proposals, reviews of current awards, and recommendations for discontinuing awards take place. Additionally, these meetings are essential for outlining the year's agenda with incoming and outgoing Committee members and jury chairs, as well as for addressing any other necessary business matters.
2. For ALA Recognition Awards only, it may be necessary to arrange a meeting prior to at least one Council meeting, so that suitable recommendations can be presented to the Council (ALA Recognition Awards only).
Appoint jury chairs and members by September 30 to determine the recipients of ALA General Awards for all awards overseen by the Committee, excluding those managed by specific units of the Association.
1. Current jury chairs should be consulted for recommendations on potential candidates to serve as chairs and members for the upcoming year's jury. Recommendations for jury appointments may also be solicited from division presidents, ALA units, state agencies, associations, Awards committee members, headquarters staff, and the broader association membership. Generally, it is advisable to ensure diverse representation from various types of libraries; however, certain awards may necessitate specific representation based on their criteria.
Report awards-related issues to the Council as needed, for their consideration or information.

Return to top of page

ALA Award Jury

The following Award Juries are tasked with determining the recipients of the ALA General Awards:

Beta Phi Mu Award
W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award for Excellence in Military Fiction
ALA Medal of Excellence
Ernest A. DiMattia Jr. Award for Innovation and Services to Community
EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award
ALA Information Today Library of the Future Award
Joseph W. Lippincott Award
Scholastic Library Publishing Award
Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity
Schneider Family Book Awards
Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship
Paul Howard for Courage (bi-annually)

Composition and Appointment

Each year, the Awards Committee Chair appoints juries tasked with determining the recipients of the ALA Awards. It is important to note that donors are ineligible to participate on the jury for their respective award. Typically, each jury consists of five members, although there are some exceptions, such as the Schneider Family Book Award. The selection of award winners shall be finalized by March 1.

Neither jury members nor their institutions are eligible for nominations for the award jury on which they are currently serving. If a jury member’s institution is nominated, then that jury member should recuse themselves from discussion and voting. If a further conflict of interest exists, final determination shall be made by the ALA Award Committee Chair.

Duties of the Jury Chair

The Jury Chair must familiarize themselves with the overall description, selection criteria, and past recipients of the award, as they are responsible for managing the selection process.

The responsibility of the Jury Chair is to:

Schedule and facilitate jury meetings as necessary after the nomination (February 1) deadline to select an award recipient. Please note that jury deliberations will be conducted in closed sessions.
Reach out to the nominator for any nomination updates.
Inform the Staff Liaison and jury members of the jury’s decision promptly.
Notify the award recipient and the nominators of those who were not selected.
1. When notifying the winner, the jury chair shall request a high-resolution head and their biographical information to use for the ALA Awards Program and the press release. If the winner is a library, request one color photograph of the library.
Prepare the initial draft of the press release and citation, then share it with the chosen winner for their input. Ensure that all relevant documentation is submitted to the ALA Awards Staff Liaison by March 30th.
Consult with the Awards Committee for guidance on interpreting the policy and terms, if necessary.
Report any issues that may arise during the execution of their responsibilities to the ALA Awards Committee Chair, as well as provide any recommendations they believe are essential for the award.

Preparation of Press Releases

The draft press release and citation should be written by the jury chair, incorporating feedback from the award recipient. This content, along with a preferred photo, must be promptly sent to the Staff Liaison following the selection process.

Preparation of Award Citations

The Jury Chair is tasked with composing the citation for the Awards Ceremony presentation. Once the selection process is complete, citations should be promptly forwarded to the Staff Liaison. The citation will undergo editing, if required, and will be formatted for printing.

The citation must be appropriate for delivery during the presentation ceremony and should:

Provide concise details on the reasons behind the selection of the winner.
The citation should not surpass 200 words in total.
Biographical details should be omitted unless they are crucial to the winner's selection for the award.

Duties of the Jury Members

The responsibility of the Jury Member is to:

Understand the criteria and selection process for the specific award
Promote award through a diverse range of communication channels for maximum exposure.
Promote and put forward nominations that are deemed deserving of recognition.
In the event that the applicant pool is insufficient, examine the jury's records from the past two years and collaborate with the staff liaison to extend the submission deadline. It is important to note that the Award Juries are not required to choose a winner in any given year if suitable candidates for the award are not present.
Oversee the distribution and evaluation of awards as required, coordinating timelines and ensuring that all deadlines are adhered to.
Determine the eligibility of nominations based on the guidelines set forth in the Awards Manual and the specific terms of the award.
Choose the recipient of the award.
If the jury chair is unable to serve, jury members may be asked to step up and serve.

Return to top of page

Procedures

Call for Award Nominees

The Staff Liaison is responsible for drafting a press release containing a concise overview of all ALA Awards in order to promote nominations. The awards announcement will be featured in the September edition of American Libraries and across various other ALA platforms.

Award Nominations

Nominations and letters of recommendation can be submitted by individual ALA members and must be sent to the ALA Awards Staff Liaison via the nomination form by the specified deadline indicated on the application. Each nomination should be completed online and include a statement of qualifications along with the rationale for the selection. The individual who submits each nomination will receive a timely acknowledgment of its receipt.

The submission deadline can be extended if necessary.

Nominations received after the deadline deemed deserving by the jury can be sent to the new jury chair for consideration in the following year.

Award Recipient Eligibility

The recipient of each award is chosen based on the specified criteria for that particular award.

Individuals serving on the jury responsible for selecting the award winner, as well as their affiliated libraries, are not eligible for consideration.
However, all other professionals in the field are eligible for award consideration, with the exception of posthumous awards, unless the nominee passes away between the nomination deadline and the announcement of the winners.
Retired librarians may also be considered for ALA awards, unless specifically excluded by the terms of a particular award.
The definition of "librarian" for award purposes is not limited to those with formal library degrees, but extends to anyone with a recognized library affiliation, unless otherwise specified by the award.

Individual

An individual cannot receive the same award more than once.
An individual cannot receive multiple awards from the ALA Awards Committee in a single year, but they may be eligible for multiple awards over time. If the same person is chosen for multiple awards in the same year, the Staff Liaison will reach out to the winner to determine their preference, and the jury will need to make a new selection.

Library/Institution

An organization may be chosen as the recipient once every five years, and after that period, they may be eligible for recognition for a different project or achievement that has not been previously acknowledged.
In any given year, no person, library, or organization may receive more than one award overseen by the ALA Awards Committee.

Jury Deliberations and Voting

All eligible candidates/projects, the nominating statements, and other supporting documents will be given to each jury member within one week of the March 1 deadline. It is important to establish a systematic procedure for evaluating nominations before making any selections.

In accordance with ALA's open/closed meeting policy, all jury meetings will be closed when evaluating the qualifications of individuals or projects for awards and grants, unless the donor specifies otherwise and the Awards Committee agrees. Juries have the option to convene via Zoom, email, and other means.

In the event of a vote, every jury member, including the chair, has the right to vote. Per ALA Bylaws, Article VII Meetings. Section 6. Voting. A majority vote shall be required for passage of any measure voted on by these means.

The recipient of the award must remember that although they can inform their friends and colleagues about their selection, they should not make any official announcements until the press releases are finalized by the Staff Liaison and distributed through the Communication Marketing and Media Office.

Duties of the Staff Liaison

The Staff Liaison:

Serves as the point of contact for the Awards Committee and Award Juries. Serves as the main communication link between the Committee and the Juries.
Assist with jury appointment process and send interest appointment forms to previous and prospective members.
Handles meeting logistics for the ALA Awards Committee and Award Juries meetings.
Downloads award nominations and sends to juries. If the award deadline is extended, post press release of its extension.
Share orientation materials (awards manual, policy and procedure) and overall details for the Committee and Juries, including an outline of important deadline dates.
Oversees the advancement of the nomination process and verifies that all jurors are meeting deadlines in the selection process. Submits award recommendations as needed.
Draft and post press releases to announce the details of ALA General Awards and to encourage nominations from the broader membership. This information is forwarded to the Communication, Marketing, and Media Office.
Draft and send an official award letter including information about the Award’s Program, an award acknowledgement form, and appropriate financial documents to be sent to the winner.
1. If a domestic recipient, a W-9 to be completed.
2. If an international recipient, a wire transfer form to be completed by their country’s banking institution.
Build relationships with Award donors.
Draft and send a donor letter to inform the donor of the award recipient, information about the Award’s Program and request funds for awards. Ensure that payments are processed before the Annual Conference. Additionally, supply essential information to assist winners in expressing their gratitude to the donor.
Post press release of award recipients received from the Award Jury Chair
Review, edit, and order award citations
Order award panels of award recipients for Annual Conference, if applicable. After Annual Conference, ship award panel to the award winner.
Organizes and coordinates all aspects of the Award’s Program preceding the President’s Program at the ALA Annual Conference. This includes creating the award script for the Chair, and arranging for a photographer (before/during the ceremony).
Send message to Units on behalf of the ALA Awards Committee for potential new awards.
Submit information to American Libraries for the September announcement of award winners, if it is accessible.
Maintains and updates the awards webpage. Revise the online roster of award recipients on the ALA website by September annually.
Safeguarding significant archival documents, including policy-related statements, proposals for awards regardless of their approval status, enduring correspondence, the names of award jury members, and pertinent financial reports.
1. Discard nominations that have been pending for over two years.
2. Retains files for a period of three years before they are deleted

Return to top of page

Establishing a New Award with the American Library Association

All units are required to present their proposals for new awards or modifications to current unit awards in accordance with the ALA Awards Manual. Proposals should be shared before the expected advertisement date with the ALA Awards Committee. The Awards Committee will evaluate and offer guidance to the unit regarding procedural matters and collaboration with other ALA units. Prior to the implementation date, all new awards must be reported to the Awards Committee, Executive Board, and Council.

Any member or unit of the Association, as well as individuals or groups outside the Association who are interested in promoting and recognizing libraries and the profession of librarianship, may submit a request for the establishment of a new ALA or unit award.

It is essential to thoroughly evaluate the subsequent factors prior to the establishment of a new ALA award:

The aim and objective of the person or organization presenting the proposal or contributing funds for award purposes should be clear. ALA awards are intended to honor noteworthy accomplishments within the profession rather than primarily functioning as promotional tools for the donor.
The presence of existing awards in related fields should be considered, as it is important to avoid redundancy in recognition.
The monetary award to the winner.

The ALA presents four distinct types of awards. As of 1995, the minimum amounts for these awards are established as follows:

Grants - $10,000
Recognition - $5,000
Scholarships - $3,000
Conference Sponsorships - $1,000

Offices, Divisions, and Roundtables do not qualify as association-wide awards within ALA and are not required to meet the established minimum monetary thresholds.

Administrative Fees

When evaluating a proposal for a new award, the Awards Committee will take into account the expenses associated with managing the award. The annual administrative fee for new awards is set at 20% of the award amount with a maximum limit of $1,000 per year. It is important to note that this fee does not pertain to the Endowment Scholarships. For awards issued by an ALA unit, the estimated administrative costs must be incorporated into the proposal and included in budget requests as necessary.

The administrative fee is intended to cover the following expenses:

Expenses associated with the preparation, printing, and distribution of award criteria and nomination forms.
Expenses associated with the creation of suitable citations and/or plaques.
Marketing and advertising of the award.
Expenses for the award presentation ceremonies.

Implementation of the Suggested Award

It is essential to establish a practical set of objective criteria for determining a winner.
The presence of suitable candidates. (Individuals or groups seeking to undertake special projects, studies, or writing typically apply for relevant awards.)

Life Expectancy of the Award

Considerations:

It is advisable to establish a date for the Awards Committee or relevant unit to assess and decide on the continuation of an award at the time the award is created. Typically, a trial period of three years is standard.
Endowments aimed at supporting the ongoing recognition of awards that have been established for five years or more should be promoted.

Preparing an Award Proposal

An electronic submission of the award proposal is required to be sent to the Awards Committee Staff Liaison no less than one month before the Committee's scheduled meeting. Typically, this involves a two-step process. The applicant might need to revise the proposal prior to receiving approval, which may or may not be completed during a committee session. It is advisable for applicants to allocate sufficient time for this entire process.

The Awards Committee will review each proposal during a scheduled meeting. It is advisable for a representative from the ALA unit most relevant to the proposal to be present at this meeting to address any inquiries and to receive the committee's recommendations.

Award Proposal Requirements

Name of Award
Definition, Purpose and Criteria: Identify the individual(s) or organization(s) qualified to receive the award, outline the objectives for which the award is intended, and provide a concise summary of the standards that will guide the selection of a recipient.
Specify the total number of recipients eligible to receive the award simultaneously, as well as the frequency of its presentation. Indicate that if no appropriate candidate is identified, the award will not be conferred for that year.
The procedure for assembling the jury includes identifying any specific groups from which jurors may be selected, determining the total number of jurors required, and outlining any special qualifications that potential jurors must possess.
Deadline for Nomination of Candidates: Indicate the deadline for submitting nominations and the format in which they should be presented, such as a description of notable achievements, among other possibilities. The deadline for nominations is set for February 1, unless stated otherwise.
Candidate Evaluation and Selection Process: Outline the methodology that will be employed to identify the recipient of the award.
Award Presentation Details: Clearly outline the dates for both the announcement and the award presentation. ALA awards should be scheduled for presentation during a suitable event.
Specify the nature and/or category of the award to be presented, such as cash, citation, medal, or similar options.
Donor: Identify the person, organization, or institution responsible for supplying the funds for both the cash award and the associated administrative costs.
Create a comprehensive 3-5 year financial plan that outlines expenses related to awards, administrative fees, promotional activities, certificate production, and any other relevant costs.
Marketing strategies: Initiatives for promoting the availability of the award and plans for publicizing the award recipients.
Assessment: Strategies for assessing the impact of the award's effectiveness.

Note: An electronic copy should be submitted to the staff liaison of the Awards Committee before the Annual Conference. The staff liaison will inform you of the time to attend the committee meeting for additional discussion.

Individuals involved in the creation of new awards are required to attend the committee meeting during which the proposal is reviewed. In instances where funding is provided to ALA, the Awards Committee, with the consent of the Executive Board and as much input as possible from the prospective donor, will establish the purpose of the award and determine the criteria for selecting a recipient.

Should a proposed ALA General Award be deemed appropriate by the Awards Committee according to the policy noted above, the chair of the Awards Committee presents the proposal at a regular meeting of the ALA Council for approval. If approved, the Executive Director will inform the donor of the acceptance of the award. In the case of a proposed ALA Unit Award, the Awards Committee need only send a statement of the award as an information item to Council. ALA Council does not approve ALA Unit Awards.

The Awards Committee should indicate to the unit representative its reasons for not forwarding its proposal to the Executive Board and Council. A revised proposal can be submitted to the Awards Committee for reconsideration.

Return to top of page

Amending Awards

The ALA Awards Committee or the relevant unit may modify ALA and unit awards as necessary.

The ALA General Awards are modified upon the requests of the ALA Council, while the Unit Awards are adjusted by the respective Unit.
The procedure for amending an award is identical to that of proposing a new award.
Amendments to the award must be clearly specified.

Return to top of page

Termination or Pausing of Awards

ALA awards may be terminated or put on hold for any of the following reasons:

The award has experienced a notable decline in interest, evidenced by the jury's inability to receive any nominations or applications for three consecutive years.
The failure of three successive juries to select a winner due to the award criteria being irrelevant, impractical, or outdated.
Ongoing pressure on a jury to sway the decision regarding the selection of a winner.
Termination of financial assistance by the donor.
Additional reasons considered suitable by the Awards Committee.

A proposal to halt or suspend an ALA award is submitted to the Council for consideration and action.

Termination Procedures

If an award is discontinued or suspended for any one of the reasons stated above, a statement indicating one of the following reasons should be received by the Staff Liaison and the ALA Awards Committee Chair.

A letter from the donor or unit explaining the rationale for ending the award and the effective date, ideally submitted six months to one year before the discontinuation takes effect.
If relevant, a letter from the estate of a personal donor upon their passing should outline the procedures for either the continuation or termination of the award.
A letter of appreciation will be dispatched to the donor from either the relevant staff member or the executive director, expressing gratitude for their support of the award.

Return to top of page

Award Ceremony

The staff liaison for the Awards Committee is responsible for coordinating and scheduling all presentations and announcements related to the awards. Typically, the ALA Recognition Awards are presented during the Awards Ceremony, which takes place before the President’s Program at the ALA Annual Conference.

The ceremonies may change annually based on the preferences of the newly elected ALA President-elect. It is advisable that:

The chair of the Awards Committee introduces the recipients to the presiding officer, while the ALA Awards chair reads the citation either in full or in part.
The award's objective is to recognize and honor a recipient.
Recipients and donors/sponsors are prohibited from delivering acceptance speeches. However, in cases where the award is being presented for the first time, the donor may be permitted to speak for a limited duration, subject to prior approval.

Older Awards Manuals

Award Manual 2019 (PDF)

Award Manual 2014 (PDF)
Award Manual 2010 (PDF)
Award Manual 2009 (PDF)
Award Manual 2008 (Word)
Award Manual 2007 (Word)
Award Manual 2006 (Word)

Return to top of page