2022 VLA Awards: Call For Nominations - Deadline ExtendedNew Deadline: June 3, 2022The Virginia Library Association is now seeking nominations for our 2022 VLA Awards and our 2022 VLA Professional Associates Forum Awards. These awards will recognize contributions of library workers in Virginia during 2021. Please use the online submission form to submit your nominations by the deadline of June 3. Questions? Contact Shaunna Hunter, Awards Committee Chair, at [email protected]. To view awards criteria and submission requirements, visit the VLA Awards webpage and VLA PAF Awards webpage. Each nominee must meet the criteria for the award for which they are nominated. Nomination forms and accompanying documentation must be submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. on May 25, 2022. The VLA Annual Conference Scholarship & Awards Celebration will be held in Norfolk in October This year, we are pleased to be honoring winners of VLA Awards and VLA PAF Awards during the celebration at The Norfolk Waterside Marriott! Tickets will be on sale when conference registration opens. Each award winner will receive one complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Celebration. List of AwardsIn order to celebrate the accomplishments of those who support and transform libraries throughout the Commonwealth, the Virginia Library Association, through the hard work of the Awards and Recognition Committee, offers a number of awards. Winners are honored every year at the Virginia Library Association Annual Conference. Academic Innovator AwardThis award recognizes academic librarians or academic project teams who have made an outstanding contribution to advance the mission of an academic library in Virginia through an innovative project, program or service during the nomination period.
The award consists of a certificate or plaque presented at the Annual Conference and a complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Banquet. Donna G. Cote Librarian of the Year AwardThe award recognizes exemplary achievement of a working Virginia librarian who has made a significant contribution(s) at any level of librarianship during the nomination period. The award is named after Ms. Cote who worked for the award-winning Central Rappahannock Regional Library for 44 years, serving as Library Director for 34 years. A dedicated public servant and visionary leader, she made access for all her motto and provided cutting-edge technologies and learning opportunities for library customers the driving force of the library's mission. Ms. Cote was the recipient of numerous awards including the Elizabeth M. Lewis Award from the Virginia Public Library Directors Association (VPLDA) and was named Outstanding Library Director in 2003 by VPLDA. Criteria for award include:
The award consists of a certificate or plaque presented at the Annual Conference and a complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Banquet. Friends of the Library AwardThis award is presented to a Friends group in recognition of distinguished service to libraries or a library in Virginia. The award consists of a plaque presented at the annual conference Scholarship and Awards Banquet, one day’s food and lodging for the honoree or one representative of the honored group or organization. George Mason AwardIndividuals (librarians or professional associates), libraries, or other organizations distinguished for advocacy of libraries and/or information access are eligible. Institutions, businesses, or academic programs whose activities have contributed to the development, growth, and extension of library and information services in the local community, the state, or the nation are also eligible. The award consists of a plaque presented at the annual conference Scholarship and Awards Banquet, one day’s food and lodging for the honoree or one representative of the honored group or organization. Honorary Life MembershipEligibility for nomination is open to all persons who have worked in an/or supported Virginia libraries and the association and who have made outstanding contributions to Virginia librarianship. Nominees are voted on by the VLA membership in the year in which the individual is nominated. Election of nominee(s) by the membership bestows on the honorary life member(s) full benefits of membership without dues. A plaque honoring a life member is presented at the annual conference. Librarian of Color Forum Award
This award increases the visibility of librarians of color/library staff of color and their work in Virginia libraries. It promotes an inclusive, positive environment in the libraries for persons of color, and enhances the image of librarians and library professionals of color in the community. The following persons are eligible to be nominated:
“Of Color” is defined as those who are American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, (using guidelines from the Spectrum Scholarship at ALA http://www.ala.org/advocacy/spectrum), including those who identify as multi-racial including at least one of the listed designations. The award consists of a certificate or plaque presented at the Annual Conference and a complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Banquet as well as a $250 cash honorarium. Outstanding Professional Associates AwardThe Outstanding Professional Associates Award was launched in 1996 as a means of recognizing excellence among the library Professional Associates in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This award will be presented to a deserving Virginia Professional Associate at the VLAPAF Spring Conference. It is presented annually to an individual who has been a member of VLA for at least one year and who demonstrates excellence in performance in his/her field of expertise. This individual should also be someone who fosters communication among library employees throughout the Commonwealth and advances and strengthens the image of Professional Associates. You may nominate a colleague or yourself. The entry should include:
Professional Associates Forum AwardThe VLA Professional Associates Forum Award was established in 1995 through the generosity of Evelyn Kimball, a retired library paraprofessional who recognizes the value of support staff development. This award is meant to assist someone who is unable to acquire local funding to attend the conference. Awarded annually, it will provide full conference fees to a deserving paraprofessional. You may nominate a colleague or yourself. The entry should include:
Public Library Innovator AwardThis award recognizes public librarians or public library project teams who have made an outstanding contribution to advance the mission of a public library in Virginia through an innovative project, program or service during the nomination period.
The award consists of a certificate or plaque presented at the Annual Conference and a complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Banquet. Trustee Library AwardThis award recognizes the distinguished service to libraries or a library in Virginia. The Trustee honored may have served on the local, state, regional, or national level, or at a combination of levels. The award consists of a plaque presented at the annual conference Scholarship and Awards Banquet, one day’s food and lodging for the honoree or one representative of the honored group or organization. Up and Comer AwardThis award recognizes a librarian who shows leadership early in his or her career. While new to the profession, he/she expands the role of librarian with forward-thinking efforts that help move libraries into the future. Winners of this award will be energetic librarians, with less than five years of professional experience, who push the boundaries of originality and creativity. They will help to establish a library culture that sets high expectations, promotes learning, and creates an understanding of the library as an integral part of the community.
Criteria for the award include: MLS degree; Nominees must be employed as a full or part-time librarian in a Virginia library for five (5) years or fewer; Be energetic and innovative and one who pushes the boundaries of originality and creativity. The award consists of a certificate or plaque presented at the Annual Conference and a complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Banquet. Virginia Library of the Year AwardThe VLA Awards & Recognition Committee determines whether the award is granted in any given year. The award is conferred upon a Virginia library (public, academic, or special), library system, or library network for distinguished achievement in service. The library board or administering body, staff, and the community or campus served shall all be involved in the work for which recognition is sought. The award shall be based upon such activities or accomplishments including any of the following:
The award consists of a certificate or plaque presented at the Annual Conference and a complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Banquet. VLAPAF Supporter of Professional Associates AwardThe VLAPAF Supporter of the Year Award was established in 1996 as a means of recognizing an individual who has provided significant support to their staff and who has been a champion for library support staff in Virginia libraries. If you know someone who has been an advocate for continuing education programs and pay increases for their library support staff and who has encouraged their library staff to excel in the workplace, you are encouraged to nominate them to receive this award and recognition. You may nominate a supporter of Professional Associates. The entry should include:
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