VLA AWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMITTEE

1. Chair
The Chair is appointed for a two-year term by the President and is a member of Council. During the second year of his/her term, the chair may recommend a chair designee to the Vice President/President Elect for the upcoming year.

2. Membership
The Second Vice-President, as Chair of the Administrative Services Committee, appoints at least 7 members, one of whom is the Chair of the Trustee and Friends Forum. Members serve for two-year terms. Terms are staggered.

3. Committee Charge

a. Elect one or more individuals for Honorary Life membership to the Association (See Appendix B of VLA Manual), for the George Mason Award (See Appendix N of VLA Manual), and for the Trustee Award. (See Appendix O of VLA Manual)

b.Select a group or groups for the Friends of the Library Award. (See Appendix P of VLA Manual)

c.Administer other awards and recognitions.

4. Responsibilities

a. Solicit nominations from the membership by placing a notice in the first issue of the VLA Newsletter following the annual conference and by postings on the VLA listserv and Association Web Page. The nomination forms for all awards are available in the VLA Newsletter or by request from the Executive Director.
The deadline for all nominations is July 1 of the year of the award. Entries not selected may be resubmitted with updated documentation for future consideration.

b. Collect, examine, and submit recommendations as explained under each award, and notifies recipients before the annual conference. At the conference, the committee chair and members present awards and feature recipients in a manner which best suits the nature of the conference.

c. Prepare plaques or other mementos honoring the outgoing President, Secretary and Treasurer and anyone else the Association may wish to honor. These are presented at the annual business meeting during the conference.

d. Prepare lists of names of eligible citizens and/or librarians for consideration by the Executive Committee for appointment to serve on state boards and councils as appropriate. These names shall be forwarded to the VLA Executive Committee for approval, and then submitted to the proper body.

5. Awards
Four main awards are administered by the committee annually.
Forms for Award Nominations

a. Honorary Life Membership (See Appendix B of VLA Manual)
Policies and Procedures

Eligibility for nomination should be confined to Trustees or former Trustees, Friends of Virginia Libraries and Virginia librarians and paraprofessionals who have held membership and who have made outstanding contributions to Virginia librarianship.

Nominations
Nominations should include:
biographical data; significant contributions to VLA (100 word limit);
documents, testimonials, news stories or other similar supporting evidence;
a statement of the number of years the nominee has been a member.

Names and information on nominees is approved by Council and appears on the annual ballot to be voted on by the membership. Members may vote on more than one nominee and more than one may be elected. A majority of 50% plus one of those voting determines life membership.

Award
Acceptance of nominees by the membership bestows on the honorary life member full benefits of membership without dues.

b. George Mason Award (See Appendix N Of VLA Manual)
Policies and Procedures.

The Committee determines whether the award is granted in any given year. Individuals, libraries, or other organizations distinguished for advocacy of libraries and/or information access are eligible. Institutions, businesses, or academic programs whose activities have contributed to the development, growth, and extension of library and information services in the local community, the state, or the nation are also eligible.

Nominations
Nominations should include contributions to the library field or information access, the nominator's evaluation of the nominee's contribution worthy of consideration for the award, documentation and/or letters of support for the nominee, and any other attachments deemed helpful.

Criteria
Awards may be considered for significant contributions in at least one of the following:

- promotion of library services through exemplary performance and recognition by the public served
- creative application of the use of technology in the delivery of library and information services design and implementation of an enlightened management and personnel system which substantially improves library and information services
- design or creation of technological or human systems programs or devices which substantially improve library and information services
- promotion and development of improved public understanding of library and information services
- creation of original work regardless of the medium used which substantially contributes to the improvement of library and information services
- promotion or development of a sustained legislative approach to improving the ability of libraries to provide for expanded services to users
- promotion or development of a program resulting in a sustained increase in voluntary support for library and information activities
- significant influence on attitudes of public or private officials who are in a position to support the improvement of library and information services
- leadership and service contributing to the development and effectiveness of the goals and objectives of the Virginia Library Association.

Award
The award consists of a certificate or plaque presented at the annual conference and one day's food and lodging for the honoree or for one representative of the honored group or organization.

c. Virginia Library Association Trustee Library Award (See Appendix O of VLA Manual)
Policies and Procedures

The Committe determines whether the award is given in any given year. The award is presented in recognition of distinguished service to libraries or a library in Virginia. The trustee or trustees honored may have served on the local, state, regional, or national level, or on a combination of levels. Trustees from small, medium and large libraries shall be given equal consideration.

Nominations
Nominations may be submitted by an individual library trustee, librarian, library board or the Virginia Library Association. Nominations shall include: a comprehensive statement of the candidate's achievements; library related activities such as board service, library association service, with offices held, dates of service, titles given, awards received, listed in chronological order; library accomplishment, including assessment and description of the nominee's contribution to library development resulting from these activities; and any comments or non-library activities which may be pertinent to this award. The nomination must include signatures, addresses, and telephone numbers from all nominators or co-sponsors.

Award
A certificate or plaque will be presented at the annual conference.

d. Virginia Library Association Friends of the Library Award (See Appendix P of VLA Manual)
Policies and Procedures
The Friends of the Library Award is presented annually to one or more Friends Groups in recognition of distinguished service to libraries or a library in Virginia. Friends of small, medium, and large libraries shall be given equal consideration. Nominations may be submitted by an individual library trustee, librarian, library board, or the Virginia Library Association.

Nominations
Nominations must include a comprehensive statement of the candidate group's achievements; library and community-related activities made on behalf of the library; the number of members and activities of the group; and contributions to the library (monetary, equipment, service, programs, etc.)

Award
A certificate or plaque will be presented at the annual conference.