WLA Awards Criteria and Nomination Forms
Nominations must be received by June 1 of each year.
A nomination must describe the achievements and indicate the time periods when the achievements were accomplished. In addition to the nomination form, at least three but no more than five letters supporting the nomination must be submitted. The nomination form, a statement of achievements, and the supporting letters must be sent as a packet to the WLA office. WLA will duplicate your nomination packet for the committee and therefore, asks that you not send scrapbooks or 3-ring binders - or if you do, that you provide 7 copies of those types of materials.
For general information, questions about the nomination form, procedures or award category criteria, please contact the committee chair.
AWARDS CATEGORIES, CRITERIA, and NOMINATION FORMS (Click on the links for MSword applications & award criteria):
- TRUSTEE OF THE YEAR: This award is conferred upon an outstanding Wisconsin
library trustee. The trustee must be in actual service during all or part
of the year in which he or she is honored. The award shall be based upon such
activities or accomplishments outlined in the nomination form.
- WLA DEMCO LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR (Award winner will receive $1,000): This award is conferred upon a
librarian in recognition of outstanding leadership and accomplishment in library
service. The librarian must be currently employed, at the time of selection,
in any field of librarianship in Wisconsin and must be a current member of
the Wisconsin Library Association. The award shall be based upon such activities
or accomplishments as outlined in the nomination form.
- SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD: This award may be conferred upon a group of people,
or an individual, for noteworthy achievement as evidenced by substantial activities
and exceptional service to the library profession. The Wisconsin recipient
or recipients shall have influence and reputation beyond the local community. See the nomination form for details.
- LIBRARY OF THE YEAR AWARD: The award is conferred upon any type of Wisconsin
library, library system or library network for distinguished achievement in
service. The staff, library board or administering body, and the community
or people served shall all be involved in the work for which recognition is
sought. The award shall be based upon such activities or accomplishments as outlined in the nomination form.
- CITATION OF MERIT: This award is conferred upon Wisconsin citizens who
are neither librarians nor library trustees, who have made outstanding contributions
to quality library services. This award may be given to a group of people
or an individual. See form for details.
- THE MURIEL FULLER AWARD: Muriel Fuller was a mentor and an inspiration for
Wisconsin librarians. This award, named in her honor, is conferred upon a
library professional or paraprofessional in recognition of outstanding accomplishments
which have significantly improved and benefited library services. These achievements
may include improving community access to library resources; extension or
promotion of library services through cooperative ventures with local agencies
or groups such as schools, businesses, or clubs; development of library facilities
or collections; or contributions to any area of library services which ultimately
benefit the library users. An employee in any type or size of library organization,
is eligible for consideration. The nominee must be a current member of the
WLA and employed in a Wisconsin library. The award may be given for a single
achievement or for a record of achievements over a period of years. The award
is intended for practitioners who have focused on improving library services
in the library organization in which they are employed, unlike the Librarian
of the Year Award which also recognizes contributions at regional, state and
national levels.
- WLA/HIGHSMITH AWARD: Libraries of any size or type are eligible for the award, which "recognizes a library's achievement in planning and implementing an exemplary program or service that has had a measurable impact upon its users. The purpose is to encourage innovation by highlighting collective efforts within a library, wherein staff, administration and volunteers have successfully marshaled the library's resources to benefit its users."