For immediate release | September 3, 2013
PLA now accepting nominations for nine service awards and grants
CHICAGO - Through the generosity of sponsors, the Public Library Association (PLA) is offering nine awards/grants designed to highlight the best in public library service and to honor those bringing innovation, creativity and dedication to public libraries. Many of the awards include an honorarium; please visit the website for details on each award and nominate your colleague or library through Dec. 2, 2013.
The awards include:
- Allie Beth Martin Award, honoring a public librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials and has the distinguished ability to share that knowledge. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor;
- Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award, promoting the development of a circulating audio music/video collection in a public library;
- Charlie Robinson Award, honoring 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. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor;
- DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant, enhancing the professional development of new public librarians by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities;
- EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Library Service Award, honoring a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community;
- Gordon M. Conable Award, honoring a public library staff member, library trustee or public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights. Sponsored by Library Systems & Services LLC;
- Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award, honoring a library worker, librarian or library that has used technology as a tool to improve services;
- Romance Writers of America Library Grant, providing a public library the opportunity to build or expand its romance fiction collection and/or host romance fiction programming;
- Upstart Innovation Award, recognizing a public library’s innovative and creative service program to the community.
The PLA Award Nomination Form is open from now until Dec. 2, 2013. An award jury appointed by the PLA President will review each nomination. Winners will be announced in February 2014, and awards will be presented at 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. For more information, contact the PLA office, (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA or by email pla@ala.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.
Contact:
Amy Sargent
Marketing and Communications Manager
Public Library Association
asargent@ala.org
Featured News
March 15, 2025
ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services
An executive order issued by the Trump administration on Friday night, March 14, calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s only federal agency for America’s libraries.
February 10, 2025
American Library Association launches public supporter program
The American Library Association launched a new supporter program on February 10, 2025, inviting the public to join the fight to protect libraries and library professionals at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.
January 26, 2025
ALA to U. S. Department of Education: Book bans are real
The American Library Association responds to the Department of Education's dismissal of complaints about censorship and discrimination: the "effort to terminate protections... advances the demonstrably false claim that book bans are not real."
January 22, 2025
New ALA Initiative Asks Advocates to “Show Up for Our Libraries”
Today the American Library Association (ALA) launched Show Up for Our Libraries, a campaign to harness the collective power of library advocates to influence elected leaders and policymakers.
January 13, 2025
American Library Association extends support to libraries affected by Los Angeles wildfires
The American Library Association extends our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected by and to those who have lost everything during the Los Angeles area fires.
December 10, 2024
PLA provides funding to more than 100 public libraries as part of $2.7 million effort to boost digital literacy
The Public Library Association (PLA) has selected more than 139 public libraries across 42 states to host digital literacy workshops, powered by a generous $2.7 million contribution from AT&T.
December 9, 2024
The American Library Association Receives Transformational Gift to Fund Scholarships
James W. Lewis has made the largest individual bequest to the American Library Association in the association’s history.
December 5, 2024
Telgemeier, McCloud chosen as National Library Week honorary chairs
Award-winning author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier and cartoonist and comic theorist Scott McCloud have been selected Honorary Chairs of the American Library Association’s National Library Week, April 6-12, 2025.
November 14, 2024
American Library Association launches national search for executive director
The American Library Association (ALA) has reopened its search for an executive director in partnership with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. The search will be led by a steering committee comprising ALA member leaders.
November 11, 2024
Cronk, Jamison, McCauley seek ALA presidency for 2026-2027
Lindsay Cronk, Tulane University, New Orleans; Andrea Jamison, Illinois State University; and Maria McCauley, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts, are candidates for the 2026-27 presidency of the American Library Association.