2017 Nominees for Honorary Life Membership

VLA has had two nominations this year for Honorary Life Member. As per the VLA Manual, this is conferred by vote of the membership and provides full benefits of individual membership without payment of dues. VLA Members are welcome to vote for one, both, or neither of the nominees.

Cy Dillon

At the end of June, 2016 Dr. Cyrus I. Dillon III retired as Director of the Library and College Computing at Hampden-Sydney College. Having worked at the college for the past six years, he was previously Executive Director of the Stanley Library and Academic Center, at Ferrum College, from 1985-2010. Dr. Dillon’s background includes a B.A. from Washington & Lee and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Arizona State University. In 2000-2001 Cy served as President of the Virginia Library Association and created a tradition throughout his career of service on numerous committees. From 2004-2007 he was President of the VLA Foundation and had been a long-serving Co-editor of Virginia Libraries (1996-2000 and 2004-2012). Cy has authored many articles, interviews, and columns for Virginia Libraries, starting in 1995, including “Openers,” a quarterly column, and continues to contribute. Even as he approached retirement, Cy made the decision to join the Editorial Board for Virginia Libraries as it transitions to an online only publication. In 2011, he was awarded a VLA Presidential Citation “in recognition of his outstanding contributions as co-editor of Virginia Libraries, in developing, promoting, and improving library and information services and the profession of librarianship in the Commonwealth and in building and sustaining the journal as reviewed and refereed, and advancing literacy and learning….” As editor and co-editor of Virginia Libraries, he took the publication online in 1999, saw its inclusion in at least four commercial aggregated databases, and initiated its availability in the Directory of Open Access Journals. His reputation as a highly professional librarian and a good and friendly person is well known statewide. He will be missed in the field of librarianship.

Caroline S. Parr

After twenty-eight years in the CRRL, Caroline S. Parr has retired as of December 31, 2015. Caroline most recently served as Interim Director, but she previously held positions as Deputy Director and Youth Services Coordinator. Caroline was not only an inspirational leader at the CRRL, but for the entire library community. She was on multiple Virginia Library Association (VLA) committees and served as VLA President in 1996. She served on the American Library Association’s Caldecott and Arbuthnot Award Committees and chaired both the Newbery and Sibert Award Committees. She was also a member for the Legislative Committee for the American Library Association (ALA) and in 2011 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award Committee member, by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of ALA. When a regional children’s book discussion group lost its organizational support, Caroline worked with other D.C. area librarians to create Capitol Choices, Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens. She served as co-editor and technology consultant for the organization for almost two decades. She plans to spend more time pursuing her passions: gardening, quilting, reading and travelling the world.