The Association for Rural & Small Libraries' Announces the 2024 ARSL Award Recipients
SEATTLE, WA —The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2024 ARSL Awards. The nominees for these national library awards have set a high standard for our professional communities and we thank them for their service to rural and small libraries!
Solo Librarian of the Year Award
This award recognizes the ARSL members who wear the most hats of all. The recipient of this award is a solo or nearly-solo library worker who best demonstrates commitment to their community and to ARSL's Organizational Values through the work that they do.
2024 Solo Librarian of the Year Recipient - Lucretia Calonder, Altoona Public Library, Altoona, Kansas.
Lucretia was nominated for her tireless dedication to revitalizing her rural community through innovative library programs, securing grants, and ensuring accessibility for all. Her empathy and determination have brought transformative change, such as securing a grant to make the library and city park fully accessible, and continuing to provide resources to those unable to visit in person, all while overcoming significant challenges.
Others nominated for the award include: Amy Ambrosius, Rushville Public Library, Rushville, Illinois; Joy Kyhn, Ravenna Public Library, Ravenna, Nebraska; and Shannon Terry, Minersville Library, Minersville, Utah.
Innovative Service Award
This award goes to a library or individual library worker who has used innovative, creative thinking to find new ways to serve their community. This could be through the establishment of a new program or service, or through the enhancement of an existing program or service.
2024 Innovative Service Award Organizational Recipient - Waynesboro Public Library, Waynesboro, Virginia.
Waynesboro Public Library was nominated for their "Community in Motion" initiative, which launched a Book Bus program to bring library services to underserved areas. This innovative outreach brought books, resources, and library card sign-ups to economically disadvantaged communities, resulting in over 590 interactions and 490 checkouts in its first year.
Others nominated for the award include: Alysha Wogee, Pahrump Community Library, Pahrump, Nevada; Hancock Co. Library System, Bay St Louis, Mississippi; Lisa Thompson, Jessie Peterman Memorial Library, Floyd, Virginia; and Sara Rudd, Pittsfield Public Library, Pittsfield, Illinois.
Equity Champion Award
This award recognizes a library or individual library worker who has demonstrated a commitment to sustained Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility practices through the work they do. They have identified one or more systemic barriers to access or service within their organization and have taken action to remove them.
2024 Equity Champion Award Recipient - Drew Wichterman, Pickaway County Library, Circleville, Ohio.
Drew was nominated for his commitment to serving rural and small communities, securing over $150,000 in grant funding to address their needs. His leadership at Pickaway County Library has been marked by his defense of intellectual freedom in the face of book challenges and threats, while also championing accessibility and supporting marginalized staff.
Others nominated for the award include: Kimber Martin, North Pike Public Library, Griggsville, Illinois.
Distinguished Service Award
This award goes to a library or individual library worker who has demonstrated significant, sustained community engagement and impact in alignment with ARSL's Organizational Values. Service may be directly related to library programs, events, or services, or may be tangentially related to library work through contributions to local civic or volunteer organizations as a representative of their library. This award can consider service undertaken for the duration of an individual's career, not only the last calendar year.
2024 Distinguished Service Award Recipient - Loly Gomez, Upper Skagit Library, Concrete, Washington
Loly was nominated for her tireless dedication to community service, exemplified by her efforts to bridge the digital divide through tech education, securing grants to expand library services, and addressing food insecurity. Her outreach to Hispanic patrons and willingness to help, even at personal cost, showcase her commitment to ensuring that everyone in the community has access to vital resources.
Others nominated for the award include: Paula Johnson, Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Maine; Rochester Public Library District, Rochester, Illinois; and Shellie Zeigler, Mississippi Library Commission, Jackson, Mississippi.
Additionally, we would like to recognize the Round Valley Branch of Mendocino County Library in Covelo, California as the recipient of this year’s Library Journal Best Small Library in America award, which was presented alongside the ARSL Awards at our Awards Luncheon during the 2024 ARSL Conference. The luncheon was jointly sponsored by Junior Library Guild and Library Journal.
For more information about the ARSL Awards, please visit https://www.arsl.org/annual-awards.
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