For immediate release | October 2, 2018

GLBTRT seeks nominations for 2019 awards recognizing outstanding service to the LGBTQ community

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CHICAGO - Every year, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ seeks to honor librarians, library related organizations (including libraries, library staff, library boards, library friends), and other individuals or groups (public or private) that have demonstrated excellence in the area of responding to the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community.

GLBTRT seeks to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of its peers. Members are an integral part of a successful awards program. GLBTRT urges members to nominate colleagues whose work has influenced their thinking and growth, and whose contributions merit recognition by the profession. Member nominations will ensure that the pool of candidates for each award remains both competitive and distinguished. Nominations and supporting materials for these awards must be submitted by December 10, 2018.

The honors librarians, library related organizations (including libraries, library staff, library boards, library friends), and other individuals or groups (public or private) that have demonstrated excellence in the area of LGBTQ activism. The award is designed for someone who is involved in efforts to promote LGBTQ issues, impedes the progress of anti-LGBTQ efforts, or raises awareness of LGBTQ matters locally, statewide, nationally or internationally. The award recognizes the work of taking a clear stance on an issue, voicing an opinion and working to ensure that positive change happens for the LGBTQ community. The award may be given for a specific action, repeated actions (like a campaign), or a lifetime of work. .

The , administered jointly by GLBTRT and the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), recognizes librarians who, through their sustained mentoring efforts, have made a difference in our profession. Each year, the award will honor a librarian who has demonstrated excellence in the area of mentoring, who has successfully encouraged others to serve as mentors, and who has impacted the lives and careers of others through tirelessly devoting time, energy, and talent toward helping others succeed in our profession. .

The honors a librarian, library staff member, library, library board, and/or library friends group who have designed programs and/or initiatives responsive to the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. By honoring programs and/or initiatives with demonstrated impact on the GLBT community that have been sustained over a period of time, this award seeks to 1) increase the number of services to or for the LGBT community in libraries, and 2) enhance the quality and sustainability of such services. .

One of each award will be given annually to an eligible candidate. These awards consist of a citation and $1,000.If a suitable candidate is not found, the award will not be presented in a given year.

Submission must be online, using the respective nomination form. A letter of nomination is required along with supporting documentation, including at least 5, but no more than ten, letters of support, statements of outstanding contributions, and other evidence. Only the materials submitted as part of the nomination package will be considered.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ is the oldest professional association for LGBT people in the United States. It is committed to serving the information needs of the GLBT professional library community and information and access needs of individuals at large. It is home to GLBT Book Month (tm), a nationwide celebration every June and the Stonewall Book Award, the oldest award honoring GLBT books. GLBTRT is committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ and democratic institutions.

Contact:

Briana Jarnagin

Member Services Assistant

ODLOS

bjarnagin@ala.org