Gerber/Hart Library Awarded the 2020 Rainbow RT Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence

CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s Rainbow Round Table (RRT) announced the Gerber/Hart Library as the fifth recipient of the Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence. The award was established to honor a library, librarian, library staff member, library board and/or library friends groups who serve the LGBTQIA+ community. Nominees are judged based on innovation, impact, sustainability and advocacy.

"The Rainbow RT is proud to award the Newlen-Symons Award to Gerber/Hart," Rainbow RT Chair Megan Drake said. "The Gerber/Hart Library and Archives is not only a vital cultural institution within the Chicago LGBTQIA+ community, but their work impacts all members of the LGBTQIA+ community beyond the Chicagoland area.The award jury was deeply impressed with their years of dedication, engagement, and the extent of their important work.”

"The Gerber/Hart Library and Archives is deeply honored to have received an award from the Rainbow Round Table of the ALA, affirming the value of our mission,” said John D'Emilio, Board President of the Gerber/Hart Library. “Gerber/Hart believes deeply that preserving and making accessible the history and culture of the LGBTQ community is an important tool in the collective effort to fight homophobia and transphobia. Our library and archives are available to everyone, and your recognition of our work will give us added visibility and motivation."

The Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence in Serving the GLBT Community will be presented virtually at a later date due to the cancellation of the 2020 ALA Annual Conference.

The award is funded by and named after Robert R. Newlen, and John W. and Ann K. Symons. Ann Symons is past-president and treasurer of the American Library Association and a past chair of Rainbow RT.

To learn more about Rainbow RT Awards, please visit http://www.ala.org/rt/rrt/awards.

The Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association is the oldest professional association for LGBTQIA+ people in the United States.  It is committed to serving the information needs of the LGBTQIA+ professional library community and information and access needs of individuals at large.  It is home to Rainbow Book Month (tm), a nationwide celebration every June and the Stonewall Book Award, the oldest award honoring LGBTQIA+ books.  Rainbow RT is committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the American Library Association and democratic institutions.