Back to RUSA Division Level Awards
A $1,000 award and certificate for a library organization that has provided services for people with disabilities. The award recognizes an innovative and well-organized project which successfully developed or expanded services for people with disabilities. The award can be for a specific service(s) program or for a library that has made their total services more accessible through changing physical and/or attitudinal barriers. Original funding for this award was provided by Aetna U. S. Healthcare beginning in 2000 through the National Organization on Disability. Keystone Systems assumed sponsorship of the award in 2004.
Nominations
To nominate a library Organization, complete the nomination form.
Questions should be directed to the committee chair.
Award Recipients
- 2020 Moline Public Library/ARTability
- 2019 South Carolina State Library’s (SCSL) Talking Book Service’s (TBS) for its Assistive Technology Petting Zoo
- 2018 Gwinnett County Public Library’s Removing Barrier’s Project
- 2017 No award presented
- 2016 Kate DeVoe & Kelly Doolittle
- 2015 New Port Richey (Florida) Public Library / Red Apple Training Center Adult Reading Program.
- 2014 Greenville County Library System (S.C.)
- 2013 No award presented
- 2012 Port Washington (N.Y.) Public Library for its “Books for Dessert” Program, and the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library and the Boston Public Library Digital Access Project
- 2011 Queens Library Mail-A-Book Program with interactive programming for the homebound ( view video)
- 2010 Resource Library of the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) for its project Disability Etiquette Infusion Units: Changing Attitudinal Barriers at University of Wyoming
- 2009 Margaret Kolaya, director, Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) and Daniel Weiss, director, Fanwood Memorial Library (NJ) for Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected
- 2008 Antioch Public Library, Antioch, CA for Wednesday Club
- 2007 The Braille Institute of Library Services, Los Angeles, for its Telephone Reader Program
- 2006 The Skokie Public Library, Youth Services Department, partnered with the Niles Township District of Special Education, for itsYouth Services Special Needs Advisory Council
- 2005 Johnson County Library, Shawnee Mission (KS) for its Literature for the Learning Disabled Adult program
- 2004 The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, University of Toledo
- 2003 The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, NC, for The Virtual Village Communication Center
- 2002 The Dunellen Public Library, Dunellen, NJ for Our Doors Are Open: Making the Disabled Welcome
- 2001 The Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland, OH
- 1999 The Disabilities Resources Incorporated, Bellport, NY