2009 EBSCO/ALA Conference Sponsorship Award winners announced

Contacts: Cheryl Malden


Program Officer


ALA Governance Office


312-280-3247


cmalden@ala.org

Brian McDermott


EBSCO Information Services


205-911-1820

NEWS


For Immediate Release


June 23, 2009

CHICAGO / BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The American Library Association (ALA) and EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) are announcing the following winners of the 2009 EBSCO/ALA Conference Sponsorship awards:

  • Elizabeth A. Boyson, librarian, Bozeman Public Library, Bozeman, Mo.
  • Karen W. Brown, reference librarian, University of South Carolina – Thomas Cooper Library, Columbia, S.C.
  • Debra Cox Rollins, instruction/reference librarian and coordinator for Information Literacy Outreach, James C. Bolton Library/Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Alexandria, La.
  • Lynne T. Holloway, library director, Augusta Public Library, Augusta, Kan.
  • Tami Miller-Earick, librarian 2, Glendale Public Library, Glendale, Ariz.
  • Carol A. Reichardt, reference & instruction librarian, J. Eugene Smith Library – Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, Conn.
  • Kristin Stout, reference and instruction librarian, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Ga.
  • Vitalija Svencionyte, reference librarian, John B. Cade Library, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, La.
  • Breanna Weston, instruction librarian, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, La.
  • Jill L. Woolums, librarian, University of CA - Berkeley, Ohlone College, Fremont, Calif.

Representing various types of library organizations, including academic and public libraries, as well as multiple position classifications, the winners hail from eight different states—from California to Louisiana.

The 10 awards, each in the amount of $1,000, are presented on an annual basis to professional librarians who are members of the American Library Association to enable them to attend the ALA Annual Conference. In order to be considered for the award, each candidate must complete an application form, which includes an essay on how conference attendance would promote their professional development. The essays are then evaluated for clarity of content, goals, benefits of attendance, commitment to ALA and the library profession, enthusiasm, financial need and potential for growth.

“This year we had a very competitive pool. Many applicants had lost financial support for travel as professional development budgets have been cut,” said Kristin Whitehair, award committee chair. “The group of 10 librarians receiving the 2009 EBSCO/ALA Conference Sponsorship awards represents a broad range of backgrounds and types of libraries. These applicants were selected based on their essays and their service to the profession and ALA. Additionally, these individuals demonstrated that attending this year's conference would have a substantial positive impact at their institution and for their careers.”

Kathleen Born, vice president and director, academic and law divisions, EBSCO Information Services, also commented, “EBSCO is pleased to sponsor this group of 10 librarians who have gone the extra mile to show their commitment to their profession. I am confident the 2009 recipients will benefit from the informative sessions and programs at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago and return to their communities enthusiastic about implementing new practices into their local libraries.”

In addition to being featured in a photographic exhibit of award winners near the ALA Registration Area at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, the award recipients will be hosted at an EBSCO-sponsored breakfast, Sunday, July 12.

EBSCO and ALA have partnered for many years in this special program, which has enabled numerous librarians to attend the annual conference and to benefit from interaction with their colleagues.

The 2009 EBSCO/ALA Conference Sponsorship Award jury members are: Kristin Whitehair, biomedical librarian/School of Nursing Liaison, University of Kansas Medical Center Dykes Library, Kansas City, Kan.; Lillian Laverne Lewis, 3L Consulting, Denver, Colo.; Antonio Martinez, Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, Kerrville, Texas; Susan Z. Melcher, Jefferson Community College, Louisville, Ky. and Scott T. Perry, University of Chicago Library, Chicago.

The deadline for submissions of applications for the 2010 EBSCO/ALA Conference Sponsorship Award is Dec. 1, 2009. Guidelines and application forms are available at
http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/awardsrecords/ebscosponsorship/ebscosponsorship.cfm

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www.ala.org

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