Virginia Library Association Announces 2015 Award Winners

The Virginia Library Association (VLA) is pleased to announce the 2015 winners of the VLA Trustee Library Award, the George Mason Award, and the Friends of the Library Award. The awards will be presented at the VLA Annual Conference in Richmond, VA on Friday, October 23 at the Richmond Marriott and Convention Center.

Trustee Library Award


The Trustee Library Award is presented annually in recognition of distinguished service to a Library or Libraries in Virginia. This year’s winner is Mr. Michael L. Ramsey of the Roanoke Public Library Foundation. During his tenure, the Foundation’s endowment has almost doubled and a significant expansion of the Virginia Room occurred. This expansion allowed more people to research their family histories and local, regional, and state history. His efforts have led to the expansion of programs promoting early childhood literacy and as well as those that reach other age groups. As a result, the City Libraries are one of the top libraries in the state in the number of programs offered and program attendance. Mr. Ramsey’s unwavering advocacy for the libraries has led to funding by the City of Roanoke for renovations that will modernize all the Roanoke Public Libraries with new facilities, technology, and refreshed collections that represent the neighborhoods they serve. In short, a library could not ask for a better champion than Mike Ramsey.

Friends of the Library

The Friends of the Library Award is presented annually to a Friends Group in recognition of distinguished service to a Library or Libraries in Virginia. This year’s winner is the Friends of the Culpeper County Library. The Friends of the Culpeper County Library is a nonprofit, volunteer organization with approximately 200 members. Their purpose is to bring attention to the Culpeper County Library, support and provide educational programming, assist in the development of children’s services, and encourage the support of the Library. The Friends group makes possible many activities including summer reading programs for children and teens, author events, flower sales in the spring and fall, a storytelling festival, Chamber breakfasts, and a used book store to name. Without the efforts of the Friends group, the Culpeper County Library would not be able to provide many of the services and events that are integral to the library’s success.

George Mason Award

The George Mason Award may be presented to an individual librarian, a library, an individual or organization distinguished for advocacy of libraries and/or information access, or to an institution, business, or academic program whose activity has contributed to the development, growth, and extension of library and information services in the local community, the state, or the nation. This year’s winner is Edwin S. Clay III. For more than 30 years, Sam Clay has served as the director of the Fairfax County Public Library. During his tenure, four regional and five community branches were added to the county library system, and four older branches were renovated. Mr. Clay was instrumental in the establishment of the Fairfax County Library Foundation, which since its inception in 1995 has donated more than $7.5 million to the Fairfax County Libraries. The community of Virginia librarians is fortunate to have the dedicated and passionate commitment of Mr. Clay. The George Mason Award is a fitting and richly deserved recognition for all that he has helped us accomplish together.

- Published August 26, 2015