SEATTLE, WA —The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 ARSL Awards. The nominees for these inaugural national library awards have set a high standard for all nominees to come. We thank them all for their service to rural and small libraries!
Solo Librarian of the Year Award
This award recognizes the ARSL members who wear the most hats of all. The winner of this award is a solo or nearly-solo library worker who best demonstrates commitment to their community and to ARSL’s Organizational Values through the work that they do.
2023 Solo Librarian of the Year Winner – Barbara Rehmeyer from Liberty Library in Liberty, Maine.
Others nominated for the award include: Bree Drapa from Westford Public Library, Westford, Vermont, Roger Duitsman from Douglas County Department of Corrections in Douglas County, Nebraska, Leslie Durham from Elgin Community Library in Elgin, Oklahoma, Lisa Ladd from Buck Memorial Library in Orland, Maine, Kayla Mathson from Independence Public Library in Independence, Wisconsin, Chelsea Price from Meservey Public Library in Meservey, Iowa, and Whitney Roundtree from Franklin County Public Library in Eastpoint, Florida.
Innovative Service Award
This award goes to a library or individual library worker who has used innovative, creative thinking to find new ways to serve their community. This could be through the establishment of a new program or service, or through the enhancement of an existing program or service.
2023 Innovative Service Award Winner – Sherry Scheline from Donnelly Public Library in Donnelly, Idaho.
Others nominated for the award include: Victoria Blackmer from Robert R. Jones Pubic Library District in Moline, Illinois, Mellissa Clark from Camden County Public Library in St. Marys, Georgia, Robyn Drummond from Wakulla County Public Library in Crawfordville, Florida, and Shannon Stoner from Gillett Public Library in Gillett, Wisconsin.
Equity Champion Award
This award recognizes a library or individual library worker who has demonstrated a commitment to sustained Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility practices through the work they do. They have identified one or more systemic barriers to access or service within their organization and have taken action to remove them.
2023 Equity Champion Award Winner – Heather Hutto from Montfort & Allie B. Jones Bristow Public Library in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Other nominated for the award include: Natalie Binder from Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library in Monticello, Florida, Ashley Stewart from Caseyville Public Library District in Caseyville, Illinois, and Maplewood Public Library in Maplewood, Missouri.
Distinguished Service Award
This award goes to a library or individual library worker who has demonstrated significant, sustained community engagement and impact in alignment with ARSL’s Organizational Values. Service may be directly related to library programs, events, or services, or may be tangentially related to library work through contributions to local civic or volunteer organizations as a representative of their library. This award can consider service undertaken for the duration of an individual’s career, not only the last calendar year.
2023 Distinguished Service Award Winner – Kieran Hixon from Colorado State Library in Florence, Colorado.
Other nominated for the award include: Mellissa Clark from Camden County Public Library in St. Marys, Georgia, Julie Elmore from Oakland City Columbia Twp. Public Library in Oakland City, Indiana, Joy Kyhn from Ravenna Public Library in Ravenna, Nebraska, and Barbara Radigan from Pulteney Free Library in Pulteney, New York.
We would also like to recognize the Page Public Library in Page, Arizona as the recipient of this year’s Library Journal Best Small Library in America award. Several members of Page Public Library staff are active and engaged members of ARSL, and they were recognized alongside the ARSL Award recipients at the 2023 ARSL Awards Luncheon. Both the Library Journal award and the ARSL Awards Luncheon were generously sponsored by Ingram Content Group.
For more information about the ARSL Awards, please visit https://www.arsl.org/annual-awards.
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Association for Rural & Small Libraries
PO Box 33731 Seattle, WA, 98133 Phone/Text 206-453-3579 |
Miss Sherry was honored to accept this award. Here is her award acceptance in front of over 700 fellow librarians.