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Appendix F: Awards

Outstanding Achievement
Peggy May
Carroon Apple
Part Presidents’
Baker & Taylor/NMRT Grassroots
Friends of Mississippi Libraries: Chapter One
Friends of Mississippi Libraries: Ruby Assaf Presidential
Mississippi Authors

Awards are presented annually except when, in the opinion of the
Awards Committee, there is no worthy recipient nominated. The
Awards Committee is responsible for selecting the recipients of the
Outstanding Achievement Award and the Peggy May Award. The School
Libraries Section selects the recipients of the Carroon Apple Award
and the Edward Ransdell Instructional Television Awards. The Past
Presidents Committee selects the recipient of the Past Presidents’
Award. The New Members Round Table selects the recipient of the
Baker & Taylor/NMRT Grassroots Award. The Friends of
Mississippi Libraries selects the recipients of the Chapter One
Award and the Ruby Assaf Presidential Award. All these awards are
coordinated through the Awards Committee.

1. Committee Duties
   1. Contact membership for recommendations by
      1. Making announcements at meetings
      2. Placing an announcement in the Spring issue of Mississippi
         Libraries
      3. Mailing standard nomination forms by June 1 (See sample forms
         in Appendix G of Handbook.)
   2. Receive nominations of names of qualified persons
   3. Keep continuous list of persons receiving recognition and
      provide names to the membership, the first printing to be in
      Mississippi Libraries with subsequent annual updates in
      the Handbook.
   4. Ensure that appropriate award is provided to be presented at
      the annual conference.
      1. Printed citation or certificate
         1. Signed by the President
         2. Stamped with official seal of MLA
      2. Other as indicated below
   5. Ensure that recipients are present to receive awards.

2. Outstanding Achievement Award
   1. Recipient
      1. A librarian who is recognized for contributions in one or more
         of the following areas:
         1. Library promotion resulting in permanent library service
            improvement
         2. Contributions to professional literature
         3. Outstanding service in one individual library unit
      2. A library trustee who has planned and executed a program of
         library promotion that resulted in permanent library improvement in
         the development of public libraries.
      3. Any citizen who has been instrumental in bettering public
         knowledge and understanding of library and professional resources,
         needs, and uses.
      4. An organization (exclusive of Friends of Libraries groups) whose support has resulted in improvement of library facilities or services.
   2. NominationNomination form should include the following information:
      Nominee’s name; library name; address; nominee’s position or title;
      a list of awards, accomplishments and contributions to library
      development or service in Mississippi; additional remarks (if
      needed); and the name and address of the person submitting the
      nomination.

3. Peggy May Award
   1. History: Peggy Jane May, Assistant Director for Library
      Development, Mississippi Library Commission, was kidnapped and
      murdered on September 17, 1974. Subsequent to these events, a
      representative of the Peoples Bank of Collinsville (Peggy’s home)
      called and volunteered his bank as depositor for funds collected to
      be used as a reward for information leading to the apprehension of
      the perpetrator of the crime. The criminal was apprehended, and
      since no one came forward to claim the reward, the trustees of the
      funds (Mary Love, Mrs. Gordon White, and Simmie Roberts), after
      consultation with several librarians, decided to use the funds in a
      way that would memorialize Miss May and her work as a librarian.
      The decision was that an award be dedicated to her for her
      outstanding work on behalf of library development and recruitment
      of librarians throughout the state. This award was also thought to
      recognize her professional legacy embodied in the Long Range
      Program for Library Development which can be a guide for present
      and future generations of Mississippians.
   2. Recipient
      1. A person in the field of endeavor who has made special
         contributions in the area of library development, such as
         1. Outstanding work on any statewide committee whose activities
            lead to specific accomplishment in library development.
         2. The organization of local and/or state-wide groups for this
            purpose.
         3. Leadership at the local level that results in accomplishments
            which have state-wide application.
      2. A person who has made substantial efforts in recruiting new
         personnel to the profession.
   3. NominationNomination form should include the following information:
      Nominee’s name; library name; address; nominee’s position or title;
      a list of awards, accomplishments and contributions to library
      development or service in Mississippi; additional remarks (if
      needed); and the name and address of the person submitting the
      nomination.
   4. Funding
      1. The funds in this account shall be increased by means of
         solicitations of gifts of money to an amount sufficient to maintain
         (by earning interest) a $500 annual cash award to be used for a
         continuing education activity such as a workshop, conference, or
         other beneficial “short course”.
      2. The funds in the Peoples Bank of Collinsville will be a part of
         Association matters.
      3. The President and Treasurer will be cosigners and
         administrators of the funds.
      4. The specific responsibility will be vested in the Awards
         Committee with the understanding that this award never lose its
         identity and purpose.

4. Carroon Apple Award
   1. History and Purpose: The School Libraries Section shall select
      and present the Carroon Apple Award for the purpose of recognizing
      outstanding accomplishment in the field of school library media
      services. The award seeks to recognize the professional legacy
      begun by Barbara Carroon in this area of school librarianship. The
      first “APPLE” award was presented to Barbara Carroon, and
      thereafter has been known as the “Carroon Apple.” The award
      consists of a brass apple engraved with the words “MS. LIBRARY
      ASSN. – CARROON APPLE – OUTSTANDING SERVICE.”
   2. Eligibility
      1. The recipient must be a MLA member.
      2. Nominators may be members of MLA or non-members who have worked with the nominee, such as principals, teachers, district media directors, etc.
   3. NominationNomination form should include the following information:
      Nominee’s name; school or system name; address; a list of
      accomplishments and contributions in the field of school library
      media services; and the name and address of the person submitting
      the nomination.
   4. Funding
      1. The President and Treasurer will be cosigners and
         administrators of the funds.
      2. The specific responsibility for the award will be vested in the
         School Libraries Section with the understanding that this award
         never lose its identity and purpose.

5. Past Presidents’ Award
   1. Purpose: To recognize outstanding performance by a beginning
      professional librarian in Mississippi.
   2. Eligibility
      1. Master’s degree in librarianship.
      2. At least two and no more than six years’ professional
         experience, two of which have been in Mississippi at the time of
         nomination.
      3. Active member of the Mississippi Library Association.
      4. Employed in Mississippi at the time of the award.
   3. Nomination
      1. Nominator must be a member of the Mississippi Library
         Association.
      2. Nomination form should include the following information:
         Nominee’s name; library name and address; nominee’s positions held
         in Mississippi (include the position, library name and dates);
         education information including dates and institutions for both
         undergraduate and graduate degrees; a list of awards,
         accomplishments and contributions to the profession; and the name
         and address of the person submitting the nomination.
   4. Recipient is selected by the former presidents of MLA.

6. Baker & Taylor/NMRT Grassroots Award
   1. History:
   2. Recipient
   3. Funding

7. Friends of Mississippi Libraries: Chapter One Award
   1. Purpose: To honor a local Friends of the Library chapter which
      is affiliated with Friends of Mississippi Libraries.
   2. Eligibility
      1. Any local Mississippi Friends of the Library organization.
      2. Must be affiliated with Friends of Mississippi Libraries.
   3. NominationNomination form should include the following information: Name
      of the Friends chapter along with the complete address and phone
      number; name of the president of the chapter; remarks about
      accomplishments; and the name and address of the person submitting
      the nomination.
   4. Sponsor: Friends of Mississippi Libraries.

8. Friends of Mississippi Libraries: Ruby Assaf Presidential Award
   1. History: Established in 1991 to honor Mrs. Ruby Assaf, long
      time supporter of libraries in Mississippi and a president of
      Friends of Mississippi Libraries.
   2. Purpose: To honor an outstanding volunteer who is a member of
      either the state organization (Friends of Mississippi Libraries) or
      of a local Friends chapter.
   3. NominationNomination form should include the following information: Name
      of the volunteer along with the complete address and phone number;
      name of the sponsoring chapter with complete address and phone
      number; and remarks about accomplishments.
   4. Sponsor: Friends of Mississippi Libraries

1. The purpose of the Mississippi Authors Awards Committee is to
   recognize and encourage Mississippi authors and promote interest in
   local authors’ books, whether the books are about Mississippi or
   another subject. This award was begun in 1987.
2. Criteria for Awards
   1. Awards may be presented in three categories: Adult Fiction; Adult Non-fiction; or Youth Fiction or Non-fiction; if meritorious works have ben published in each category.
   2. The honored author[s] must be a Mississippian or have lived in
      Mississippi for at least five consecutive years.
   3. An editor, illustrator,  or translator may be considered.
   4. The honored author[s] must be living.
   5. The award[s] shall be presented for a specific work rather than
      a body of work.
   6. To be eligible for consideration, a book must have been
      published within three calendar years proceeding the year in which
      the award is made.
   7. Each work should be judged on its overall quality, with
      consideration given to literary merit, style and technique,
      originality, grammar, and if applicable, accuracy, authenticity, and
      illustrations.
   8. Nominations for works must be made by a current member of MLA to a committee member who will then bring the nomination to the full committee for consideration.
   9. If there are no worthy nominations in a category, no award will be given.
   10. Previous winners may be considered.
3. Committee Composition
   1. The committee shall have eight to fifteen members appointed by the
      Association President and approved by the Association Board,
      serving overlapping two year terms.
   2. The co-chair is appointed by the President from among the new members and becomes chairperson the following year.
4. Committee Procedures
   1. The first official meeting of the committee is held by February 15^th.  The chairperson arranges space and time for the meeting to be held, and notifies all committee members of the meeting’s time, location and agenda via e-mail.  When it is possible, have the first meeting coincide with a regularly scheduled MLA Board Meeting so that the MLA President, Fiscal Management Chair and Executive Secretary may also attend.
   2. In early January, the chairperson will send an e-mail to all MLA members asking for nominations for the award to be sent to committee members.  The list of last year’s nominations will form the basis for the current year, and each committee member will be asked at the meeting to provide any new nominations.  Nominations must meet the criteria specified in Section II.  Initial committee assignments will be given at the first meeting.
   3. Within two weeks after the first meeting, the nominations will be closed and a current list of nominated books will be compiled by the chairperson and sent to all members of the committee.  Each member is asked to specify books that he/she would be willing to read and critique; however, everyone is encouraged to read as many books as possible.  Reviews of the eligible books from the previous year, and all new reviews, will be shared with members of the committee by e-mail.  E-mail subject lines should contain the wording, “Review of [title].”  Each review should indicate whether or not the committee member deems the work worthy of the award; a simple “recommended” or “not recommended” will suffice.  It should be understood that reading is the biggest commitment to this committee.
   4. Committee members will read and review books during the months of February through April.
   5. A deadline will be set by the Chairperson for all readings to be completed, and the Chair will compile the list of recommended titles into categories for electronic voting.  Voting continues until a winner is chosen from the recommended titles.
   6. The Chairperson will contact the winners with an official letter with information regarding the award and particulars regarding the Convention.
   7. Publicity information will be sent to Mississippi Libraries in time for publication in the winter issue of ML after the MLA Conference.
   8. The Chairperson forwards the names of the winners to the MLA Webmaster for inclusion on the list of award winners.
5. Recipients receive:
   1. Plaque
   2. Honorarium of $200
   3. Hotel accommodations for one night
   4. Meals for the day of the presentation
   5. Reimbursement for expenses for travel according to MLA guidelines
   6. Tickets to Awards Banquet for honoree plus three guests
   7. Honorary membership in MLA (voted by executive board, May,
      1989).

Copyright 2012 Mississippi Library Association. All rights reserved.
PO Box 13687, Jackson MS 39236-3687 Phone: 601-981-4586 Fax:  601-981-4501 E-mail:  info@misslib.org
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