Monday, August 01, 2011

Best Small Library in America Award Nomination Guidelines Announced

Library Journal's annual award for the Best Small Library in America, co-sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. Now in its seventh year, the award honors the public library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less.

The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award, a feature story in the February 1, 2012, Library Journal, membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public Library Association Biannual Conference in 2012 in Philadelphia, PA, and a gala reception at the conference. Starting with the 2011 award year, two finalist libraries will be awarded a $5,000 cash award as well as membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the PLA conference and the gala reception in 2012, and they will be given special mention in Library Journal.

Members of the editorial board of Library Journal, librarians from around the country, and a representative from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will judge nominations based on key factors, including:
Creativity in developing services and programs that can be replicated by other libraries, including outreach to special populations
Innovation in introducing and supporting public access to computers and the Internet  
Success in educating patrons in computer use, and measuring the results of technology usage
Use of technology to expand the reach of library services
Demonstrated community support
Sustained cooperation with other libraries
Partnerships with other agencies and businesses
Increase in library use, particularly by new users
Evidence of library's role as community center

Detailed eligibility requirements and submission requirements are at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA606273.html .

The postmark deadline for nominations is November 2, 2011.  Send the nomination to:

Library Journal's Award for the Best Small Library in America
Library Journal
160 Varick Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY  10013

If you have any questions regarding the submission process, please contact Rebecca Miller at rmiller@mediasourceinc.com or by phone at (646) 380-0738.
--from Channel Weekly, The DLTCL Electronic Newsletter, Volume 13, Number 39 – July 28, 2011,   Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

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