Awards
The Minnesota Library Association, as a part of its Annual Conference, recognizes the contributions of Association members and others who have worked to improve library services throughout the state. Nominees are solicited in advance and are reviewed annually by an Awards Committee chaired by the past president of the Association. An additional annual award is presented by the current president of the Association.
Other awards may be made by divisions or other subunits of the Association, which are responsible for the nomination and selection processes. These awards are typically made at the Annual Conference and coordinated in advance with the Awards Committee and the MLA office.
The nomination period for 2011 has ended.
Award Descriptions and Criteria
Awards of the Minnesota Library Association
- President’s Award
Nominated and selected by the president of MLA
Established in 1981, this award recognizes significant and major contributions of members to the work of the Minnesota Library Association. Recipients must be members of MLA as defined in MLA policies and have made the contribution within the current fiscal year or the previous year. - Minnesota Library Association Above & Beyond Award
Nominated by current MLA members and selected by the MLA Awards Committee
The Minnesota Library Association Above & Beyond Award is given in recognition of a recent group or individual contribution significant to the Minnesota library community. The award can be given to up to three recipients per year. Recipients receive a certificate, recognition at the Annual Conference, and $100. Individuals and groups receive the same level of recognition.
Eligible candidates:
• Academic, public, school, and special libraries
• Any level of library staff, work team, or department
• Friends, trustees, foundations, and other library supporters
• Legislators
Criteria: Projects, programs, or services that demonstrate innovation and/or outstanding dedication and have local or statewide impact
Awards of the Minnesota Library Association Division and Subunits
- Minnesota Academic Innovators Award
This award recognizes academic librarians or academic project teams who have made an outstanding recent contribution to advance the mission of an academic library in Minnesota through an innovative project, program, or service. (Innovation will be considered very broadly.) The award is sponsored by the MLA Academic & Research Libraries Division (ARLD). The recipient of the Innovators Award is recognized and presented with a $300 award at ARLD Day.
Criteria: Projects/programs/services should demonstrate recognized creativity and quality within the context of an academic institution.
Eligibility: Nominees must be employed by or associated with an academic or research library and/or organization that furthers the mission of academic libraries.
Nomination and selection process: Self nominations are accepted. The ARLD Awards committee will receive and evaluate nominations from the ARLD membership. Nominations must include a nomination form and a statement (not to exceed 500 words) highlighting the nominee’s innovation.
Notification: The award recipient will be notified prior to the ARLD Day and invited to give a brief presentation on his or her project/program/service at ARLD Day. Announcements will also be sent to the ALA Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Chapter Topics Newsletter and will be posted on the MLA website and through other internal and external communication. - SSPiN Advocate Award
Nominated by current MLA members and selected by the SSPiN Committee
Sponsored by the Support Staff and Paraprofessional Interest Section (SSPiN), this award recognizes library professionals who understand the importance and value of support staff and paraprofessionals and who encourage and support them in his/her organization. Candidates should demonstrate any or all of the following criteria:
• Excellence in performance in his or her field
• Current membership in MLA
• Understanding and value of the importance of support staff and paraprofessionals in his/her organization
• Providing support staff and paraprofessionals with opportunities to attend and be involved in professional organizations
• Encouragement and motivation for professional development and membership in MLA and in SSPiN in particular
• Mentoring of support staff and paraprofessionals in his/her organization - Una Lamb Paraprofessional of the Year Award
Nominated by current MLA members and selected by the SSPiN Committee
Sponsored by the Support Staff and Paraprofessional Interest Section (SSPiN), this award recognizes individuals who demonstrate a high level of professionalism, are supportive of his/her fellow library workers, and demonstrate any or all of the following criteria:
• Excellence in performance in his or her field
• Outstanding service to the library profession
• An ability to foster communication between library workers
• An interest in advancing and strengthening the image of library staff
• Active service in library activities at the local, state, regional, or national level
• An ability to publish and/or present programs, workshops, or seminars
• Current membership in MLA and SSPiN
Awards from Other Organizations
Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) annually presents an award for outstanding work by a Friends of the Library organization. In appreciation for the work of Friends of the Library throughout the state, MLA announces this award in conjunction with its Annual Conference. For more information, please visit www.malf.info.
Discontinued Awards
- Certificate of Merit
- Distinguished Acheivement Category I
- Distinguished Acheivement Category II
- Librarian of the Year
- Minnesota Academic Librarian of the Year
- Trustee of the Year
Past Award Recipients
2011 Awards Committee
- Chair: Kathleen James
- Robin Chaney, Director, SAMMIE
- Chris Lang, Office Administrator, Plum Creek Library
- Anne Mackereth, Northwestern Health Sciences University
- Kate McCready, University of Minnesota
- Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian, SELCO
- Louise Moe, Rochester Public Library