At the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting, which starts today in Atlanta, Penguin Random House has announced the inaugural winners of its new Library Awards for Innovation, which seek to recognize outstanding library programs “that engage citizens in reading and strengthen the social and cultural fabric of their community.”
The 2017 awards consist of one $10,000 first-place grant, six $1,000 runner-up grants, and one book grant award for each librarian’s respective public library. In addition, book donations will be made to all of this year’s winners:
Kay Marner: $10,000 Grant Recipient, Project Coordinator, Ames Public Library, Ames, Iowa.
Syntychia Kendrick-SamuelL: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Head of Teen Services, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Keenon McCloy: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Director, Memphis Public Library, Memphis, Tennessee.
Linda Osuna: $1,000 Grant Recipient, CEO Manager, Hillsboro Public Library, Hillsboro, Oregon.
Tracy Green: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Director of Development, Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville, Kentucky.
Janet Brown: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Library Services Rep, Windsor Public Library, Windsor, Ontario.
Jerry Szpilla: Book Grant Award Recipient, Manager, Camden County Library System, Camden, New Jersey.
In addition to her $10,000 first-place award, conference registration, travel, and lodging expense were also included so that Marner could accept the awards at the evening’s opening Penguin Random House reception at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.
The awards were announced last year by the Penguin Random House Foundation, in an effort to support and recognize the work librarians.
“It’s such an honor to highlight and celebrate some of the extraordinary and innovative programs which librarians have created to connect and grow literacy in their communities,” said Skip Dye, v-pt, Academic Marketing & Library Sales, in a statement “Never has there been a more important time to encourage, support and value the impact that librarians have in our society.”
