African-American Library and Cultural Center honored with RUSA award

Contact: Liz Markel


Marketing Specialist, RUSA/ASCLA


(312) 280-4398


lmarkel@ala.org

For Immediate Release


August 4, 2009

CHICAGO— The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), a part of the Broward County (Fla.) Libraries Division, has been selected as the 2009 winner of the Standard & Poor’s Award for Outstanding Service to Minority Business Communities.

The award, administered by the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS), is a citation and $2,000 cash prize presented annually to a librarian or library. It honors recipients who have created an innovative service to a minority business community or achieved recognition from that community for providing outstanding service.

According to the award committee, the AARLC was honored for the integral role it plays in its local community, primarily in providing small-business expertise to its users. Through its well-supported and successful programs and services, the center has built an economic bridge that connects the library and the African-American business community.
More information about the AARLC and its services and programs is available online at the center's website.

Julie Hunter, associate director for the Broward County Library, accepted the award on behalf of the center at the RUSA Awards Ceremony and Reception at the ALA Annual Conference, which was held July 9-15 in Chicago.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. For more information, visit www.ala.org/rusa. Not a RUSA member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, RUSA preconferences and other RUSA events? Join, renew or add RUSA to your ALA membership at
www.ala.org/membership.