PLA Blog

The Public Library Association’s awards and honors are designed to highlight the best in public library service. Nominate your library or a colleague for a PLA award through PLA’s new online awards application.

The deadline for applications is December 1, 2006. All applications must be submitted online prior to the deadline in order to be considered.

PLA Achievement Awards:

• Advancement of Literacy Award to a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation, or similar group for a significant contribution to the advancement of literacy. Sponsored by Library Journal

• Allie Beth Martin Award of $3,000 to a public librarian who has extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books/library materials and the distinguished ability to share that knowledge. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor

• Charlie Robinson Award of $1,000 to a public library director who, over a period of seven years, was a risk-taker, innovator, and/or change agent in a public library. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor

• EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award of $1,000 to a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community as exemplified by an overall service program or a special program of significant accomplishment. Sponsored by EBSCO Information Services

• Highsmith Library Innovation Award of $2,000 to a public library for achievement in planning and implementing a creative community service program. Sponsored by Highsmith, Inc.

New this year from PLA:

• Gordon M. Conable Award of $1,500 to a public library staff member, library trustee, or public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights. Sponsored by LSSI

PLA Grant Opportunities:

• Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award Grant of $2,500 in audio/music-video products for a proposal that outlines the purpose, benefits, and plan for initiating or expanding a circulating audio music/video collection. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor

• Demco New Leaders Travel Grant of up to $1,500 each, not to exceed $5,000, to PLA members who are new to the profession and who have not attended a major PLA continuing-education event in the last 5 years. Sponsored by Demco, Inc.

• “Grow Your Own” Institutional Scholarship of $8,000 to a public library for reimbursement of employees’ course tuition costs at the undergraduate or graduate level. This PLA Pilot program is now in its second year.

Visit www.pla.org for applications and more information.

Remember – Deadline for applications is December 1, 2006!

Tags: awards, contest, PLA, PLA Blog, professional development, programs, public libraries, technology

This entry was posted on Monday, November 6th, 2006 at 4:31 pm and is filed under PLA Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.