Awards
The LAA grants several annual awards to recognize and celebrate the contributions of its members to the library and information sector. The LAA hopes that these awards can serve as a form of motivation and encouragement for members to continue their excellent work and to inspire others to do the same.
Nominations are accepted by members of the Library Assocation and are typically open in the first quarter of the new year. Award recipients are annouced and celebrated at the Annual General Meeting of the association in the second quarter of the year. For more information about the LAA Awards, please contact us.
Nominations for the 2024 awards are now open! Read below to find out how to submit a nomination.
You can view the full list of reward recipients here.
The Punch Jackson Award for Excellence in Library Service
The Punch Jackson Award, named in honour of Alberta library advocate Punch Jackson, recognizes excellence in service, programming, public relations or advocacy achievement in library service in Alberta.
The Award may be for individual or institutional excellence. Prior to 2010, the award was known as The Award of Excellence.
2023: Dr. Norene Erickson and Lisa Shamchuk, for the development of the CFLA Guidelines for the education of library technicians in Canada
Award Criteria
Purpose:
- To recognize excellence in service, program, or public relations/advocacy achievement in library service in Alberta. Award may be for individual or institutional excellence.
- This award, formerly known as the Award of Excellence, was renamed in 2010 to recognize the outstanding contribution that Mr. Jackson has made to the Alberta library community.
General Information:
- The Punch Jackson Award of Excellence need not be given every year.
- The Continuing Education Committee reviews and ranks nominees using selection rubric and makes a recommendation to the LAA Board, who makes final selection.
- Membership will be notified at the AGM.
- Nominators must be members of the LAA.
Value:
- There is no monetary value attached to this award.
Eligibility:
- Service, program, etc. being nominated must have benefited residents of Alberta in some way.
- Persons associated with service, program, etc being nominated need not be a member of the LAA.
Criteria for Selection:
- Must benefit clientele and enhance the library operation.
- Must meet its stated goals and objectives.
Application Requirements:
- Name of service or program
- Purpose of service or program
- Description of activity
- Demonstration of impact
- Photographs if applicable
- Other supporting documentation
- At least one letter of support of nomination
Promotion:
Award is promoted on Alberta-based library listservs (e.g. Jerome-L, APLAC) the LAA newsletter, LAA social media channels and on the LAA website
General Procedure and Timeline:
- Award nominations are collected electronically (e.g. through google forms)
- Award nominations open 2 months prior to annual AGM
- Award nominations close 1 month prior to annual AGM
- Award selection is made 2 weeks prior to annual AGM
- Award recipients are contacted 1 week prior to annual AGM
- Award recipient is announced at annual AGM
Nomination Procedures:
Click here to nominate a program or service for this award. Deadline for nominations is April 26, 2024.
The Pat Jobb Award for Early and Mid-Career Library Staff
Established in 2023, The Pat Jobb Award, honouring the legacy of Pat Jobb, who played a significant role in the creation of The Alberta Library and was an honourary lifetime member of the LAA, recognizes early or mid-career library staff who has made a significant contribution to their ocmmunity or to the larger library community.
2023: Carly Siver-Leong, for her service to the school library community in Alberta.
Award Criteria
Purpose:
- To recognize an early or mid-career library staff who has made a significant contribution to their community or the larger library community
- The award recognizes the legacy of Pat Jobb, who played a leading role in the creation of The Alberta Library and was an Honorary Life Member of the organization. She passed away in 2012. Formerly awarded by The Alberta Library to recognize outstanding service and significant contribution to Alberta’s library community through work with The Alberta Library.
General Information:
- The Pat Jobb Award need not be given every year.
- The Continuing Education Committee reviews and ranks nominees using a selection rubric and makes a recommendation to the LAA Board, who makes final selection.
- Membership will be notified at the AGM.
- Nominators must be members of the LAA.
Value:
- There is no monetary value attached to this award.
Eligibility:
- Nominees will have, in some way, contributed to their home community or the wider Alberta library community.
- Nominees need not be a member.
Criteria for Selection:
- Nominees must have had a demonstrated impact on the Alberta library field or in their home community
Application Requirements:
- Name of individual being nominated
- Purpose
- Description of their career
- Description of contribution to Alberta library field
- Photographs if applicable
- Other supporting documentation if applicable
- At least one letter of support of nomination
Promotion:
- Award is promoted on Alberta-based library listservs (e.g. Jerome-L, APLAC) the LAA newsletter, LAA social media channels and on the LAA website
General Procedure and Timeline:
- Award nominations are collected electronically (e.g. through google forms)
- Award nominations open 2 months prior to annual AGM
- Award nominations close 1 month prior to annual AGM
- Award selection is made 2 weeks prior to annual AGM
- Award recipients are contacted 1 week prior to annual AGM
- Award recipient is announced at annual AGM
Nomination Procedures:
- Click here to nominate an individual or small group of individuals for this award. Deadline for nominations is April 26, 2024.
The President's Award
The President's Award recognizes the efforts of an individual or small group of individuals who have made a major impact on a province-wide basis in the library field in Alberta.
2023: Sharon Siga
Award Criteria
Purpose:
- To recognize the efforts of an individual or small group of individuals who have made a major impact on a province-wide basis in the library field in Alberta.
General Information:
- The President's Award need not be given every year.
- The Continuing Education Committee reviews and ranks nominees using selection rubric and makes a recommendation to the President, who makes final selection.
- Nominators must be members of the LAA.
- Membership will be notified at the AGM.
Value:
- There is no monetary value attached to this award.
Eligibility:
- Nominees will have, in some way, contributed to the goals of the Library Association of Alberta.
- Nominees need not be a member.
Criteria for Selection:
- Nominees must have had a demonstrated impact on the Alberta library field.
- Nominees must have contributed to the goals of the LAA, but do not need to be a current member.
Application Requirements:
- Name of individual being nominated
- Purpose
- Description of their career
- Description of contribution to Alberta library field
- Photographs if applicable
- Other supporting documentation if applicable
- At least one letter of support of nomination
Promotion:
- Award is promoted on Jerome-L, APLAC listerv, LAA newsletter, LAA social media channels and on the LAA website.
- Nominations to be received via Google Form.
General Timeline:
- Award nominations open 2 months prior to annual AGM
- Award nominations close 1 month prior to annual AGM
- Award selection is made 2 weeks prior to annual AGM
- Award recipients are contacted 1 week prior to annual AGM
- Award recipient is announced at annual AGM
Nomination Procedures:
Click here to nominate an individual or small group of individuals for this award. Deadline for nominations is April 26, 2024.
Honorary Lifetime Membership
Recognizes the efforts of an individual who have made a major impact on a province-wide basis in the library field in Alberta and a significant contribution to the work of the Library Association of Alberta.
Award Criteria
General Information:
- The Honorary Lifetime Membership need not be given every year.
- The Continuing Education Committee reviews and ranks nominees using selection rubric and makes a recommendation to the Board, who makes final selection.
- Nominators must be members of the LAA.
- Membership will be notified at the AGM.
Value:
- There is no monetary value attached to this award.
Eligibility:
- Nominees will have, in a significant way, contributed to the goals of the Library Association of Alberta.
Criteria for Selection:
- Nominees must have had a demonstrated impact on the Alberta library field.
- Nominees must have contributed significantly to the goals of the LAA, but do not need to be a current member.
Application Requirements:
- Name of individual being nominated
- Purpose
- Description of their career
- Description of contribution to Alberta library field
- Photographs if applicable
- Other supporting documentation if applicable
- At least one letter of support of nomination
Promotion:
- Award is promoted on Jerome-L, APLAC listerv, LAA newsletterLAA social media channels and on the LAA website.
- Nominations to be received via Google Form.
General Timeline:
- Award nominations open 2 months prior to annual AGM
- Award nominations close 1 month prior to annual AGM
- Award selection is made 2 weeks prior to annual AGM
- Award recipients are contacted 1 week prior to annual AGM
- Award recipient is announced at annual AGM
Nomination Procedures:
- Click here to nominate an individual or small group of individuals for this award. Deadline for nominations is April 26, 2024.
Certificate of Thanks
The Certificate of Thanks recognizes the contribution to the LAA through service on the Board of Directors, Strategic Committees and Interest Groups.
2023: Charla Majeran, Kait McClary, Lorisia MacLeod, Kirk MacLeod, Susan Parkinson, Christine Coulson