Mississippi Library Champion Award

The Mississippi Library Association recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations that contribute tremendously to outstanding library service in our communities. The Mississippi Library Association is seeking nominations for the annual Library Champion Award. These awards recognize individuals (not employed by a Mississippi Library, the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Southern Mississippi, or the Mississippi Library Commission), businesses, and community organizations for their substantial involvement with Mississippi’s libraries or who have contributed time, talent or resources that resulted in the enhancement, improvement, or recognition of library service in the State of Mississippi. Library champions work tirelessly in promoting significant advocacy for all types of libraries and/or the library profession throughout the state. The MLA Library Champion award began in 2011 in response to outstanding advocacy in support of maintaining state funding for libraries by Representative Cecil Brown and Representative Billy McCoy, who were the first recipients. The recipient of the 2012 Library Champion Award was Randy Sherard, Attorney and tireless supporter of MLA and the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library.

Recipients will be honored at the Mississippi Library Association Annual Conference Awards Luncheon held every year on Friday, the last day of the annual MLA Conference.

Anyone may submit a nomination for Library Champion. Previous recipients are eligible for nomination. 

Click Here for the 2024 Nomination Form

2015 - Ed Ward, M.R. Davis Public Library Volunteer, First Regional Library System

2014 - No award given.

2013 – Chevron Products Company, Pascagoula Refinery

2012 – Attorney Randy Sherard

2011 – Representative Cecil Brown and Representative Billy McCoy