PLA announces 2005 award winners

Contact: Shannon Distel

1-800-545-2433, ext. 5026

For Immediate Release

February 3, 2005

PLA announces 2005 award winners

CHICAGO - Winners of seven distinguished service awards have been announced by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

PLA's Advancement of Literacy Award.
The Advancement of Literacy Award was awarded to: Michael Page, external affairs manager, Verizon Foundation, San Bernardino, Calif. Sponsored by Library Journal, the award is given to a publisher, bookseller, software dealer, foundation or similar group that has made a significant contribution toward the advancement of adult literacy.

Allie Beth Martin Award.
Pamela E. Groves, youth services librarian, Princeton Public Library, Princeton, N.J., was named to receive the $3,000 award donated by sponsor Baker & Taylor.
This award recognizes a public librarian for demonstrating a range and depth of knowledge about books and other library materials and the ability to share that knowledge.

The Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award Grant went to the Haines Borough Public Library, Haines, Alaska. This grant offers the selected library $2,500 in audio music and video products for its circulating collections.

PLA's
Charlie Robinson Award has been awarded to: Raymond Santiago, director, Miami Dade Public Library System.
This award recognizes a public library director for implementation of innovative change.
Sponsored by Baker & Taylor, this award consists of $1,000 and a gift to the recipient.

EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award.
The recipient of this award is the Curtis Township Library, Glennie, Mich. EBSCO Subscription Services donates $1,000 to honor a public library serving a population of 10,000 or fewer that demonstrates excellence in service to its community as exemplified by an overall service program or a special program of significant accomplishment.

The
Highsmith Library Innovation Award was awarded to Richmond Public Library, Richmond, British Columbia.
Highsmith, Inc., the award's sponsor, provides a plaque and a $2,000 honorarium to recognize a public library's innovative or creative service program to their community.

Demco New Leaders Travel Grants were awarded to Wendy Lee, Marshall-Lyon County Library, Marshall, Minn. and Jennifer Dawson, Kanawha County Public Library System, Charleston, W.Va.
Via this grant, PLA provides up to $5,000 to support the professional development and improve the expertise of public librarians new to the field by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities.

PLA will recognize all award winners on Monday, June 27, 2005, at the PLA President's Program and Awards Reception, during the American Library Association's 2005 Annual Conference in Chicago.
This event, which is part of the ALA Auditorium Speaker Series, will feature keynote speaker David Sedaris.

For more information, call the PLA office, 800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or see PLA's web site at
http://www.pla.org.