For immediate release | October 17, 2022

2023 RUSA Achievement Awards Nomination Period Opens

¾«¶«´«Ã½

CHICAGO-There are so many people doing good work; this is a chance to make sure they get the national recognition they deserve. The Reference and User Services Associaion (RUSA) is now seeking nominations for the 2023 Achievement Awards!

Please take a look at the award summaries below with these questions in mind:

  • Is there anyone you know that could be worthy of consideration?
  • What library in your area has been excelling in this work?

Consider nominating someone if your answer is ‘YES’ to either of those questions. You can access the nomination form underneath each award description below. The deadline for nominations is February 17th, 2023.

RUSA Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award

Presents a $5,000 monetary prize and a citation to an individual who has made a distinguished contribution to reference librarianship.

RUSA Margaret E. Monroe Library Adult Services Award

$1,250 and a citation presented to a librarian who has made significant contributions to library adult services.

RUSA Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Library Services

A citation and $1,500 monetary award presented to a library or library system for developing an imaginative and unique resource to meet patrons' reference needs presented to a library or library system for developing an imaginative and unique resource to meet patrons' reference needs.

RUSA John Sessions Memorial Award

A library or library system which has made a significant effort to work with the labor community and by doing so has brought recognition to the history and contribution of the labor movement to the development of the United States.

RUSA Gail Schlachter Memorial Research Grant

Awarded annually in the amount of $5,000 to financially support an individual or collaborative group conducting research intro reference or user services whose research projects aim to better understand or answer key questions related to connecting people to resources, information services, and collections.

RUSA Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia

Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia presents two grants of $2,500 each and a citation to two libraries to support the creation of new services and/or new programming to directly serve those living with dementia. More information ...

RUSA Exceptional Service Award

This award is given to recognize exceptional service to patients, to the home bound, to people of all ages who live in group homes or residences, and to inmates, as well as to recognize professional leadership, effective interpretation of programs, pioneering activity, and significant research of experimental projects.

RUSA Federal Achievement Award

The Federal Achievement Award presented by ASGCLA 2019-2020, and RUSA 2021- current, was formerly the FAFLRT Achievement Award. The award recognizes an individual for achievement in the promotion of library and information service and the information profession in the Federal community. Those nominated need not be members of RUSA or ALA, nor of FAFLIG or predecessor, FAFLRT.

RUSA Federal Rising Stars Initiative

Federal Rising Stars Initiative, begun by FAFLRT, is being administered by RUSA, since the dissolution of ASGCLA (which had merged with FAFLRT). The award highlights the achievements of those new to the profession. Rising Stars are those people who display a passion for the profession, both at work and via volunteer or association activities.

RUSA Francis Joseph Campbell Award

A citation and a medal presented to a person or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for people with physical disabilities and/or physical impairments.

RUSA/Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS) & National Organization on Disability (NOD) Award

A $1,000 award and certificate for a library organization that has provided services for people with disabilities. The award recognizes an innovative and well-organized project which successfully developed or expanded services for people with disabilities.

BRASS Public Librarian Support Award

This annual award offers a cash award of $1,250 in travel funds for a public librarian, who has performed outstanding business reference service, and who requires financial assistance, to attend the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference.

BRASS Student Travel Award

Established in 1992, this $1,250 monetary prize is given to a student enrolled in an ¾«¶«´«Ã½accredited master’s degree program to fund travel to and attendance at the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference and a one-year membership in the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of RUSA.

BRASS Excellence in Business Librarianship Award

Established in 1989, the BRASS Award for Excellence in Business Librarianship offers $4,000 and a citation. This award recognizes an individual librarian who has built a record of contributions over time which, taken altogether, demonstrate the individual’s excellence in business librarianship.

BRASS Research Grant Award

Awarded to an individual or team seeking support to conduct research in business librarianship. One $2,000 award will be presented. More information ...

BRASS Academic Business Librarianship Travel Award

This award presents a citation and $1,250 to an individual new to the field of academic business librarianship in order to support attendance to the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference.

CODES Louis Shores Award

Established in 1990, this award recognizes an individual reviewer, group, editor, review medium, or organization for excellence in book reviewing and other media for libraries. Award winners receive a citation.

ETS Best Emerging Technology Application Award

Established in 2019, the ETS Best Emerging Technology Application Award offers $3,000 to an individual or group in recognition of a technology application that benefits the library and its patrons.

ETS Achievement Award

Given annually to recognize excellence in service to RUSA’s Emerging Technologies Section (ETS). The ETS Achievement Award is given to an individual who is a current member of ETS, and has been an active member for at least the past year.

Presents a citation and $1,500 to an individual, group, publisher or institution, in recognition of professional achievement in historical or genealogical reference, service, or research librarianship. More information ...

The award winner will receive a citation and $2,500 and will be granted to an individual librarian or library staff member in order to facilitate and further research relating to history and history librarianship. More information ...

An annual award consisting of $2,000 and a citation. It recognizes an individual for outstanding professional achievement, leadership, and contributions to interlibrary loan and document delivery through recent publication of significant professional literature, participation in professional associations, and/or innovative approaches to practice in individual libraries. More information ...

Presented to librarians or library staff to highlight and encourage excellence in publication in STARS (Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section) areas, including interlibrary loan, document delivery, remote circulation, access services, cooperative reference, cooperative collection-development, remote storage and other shared library services. More information ...

Offers a gift of $1,250 to fund travel expenses associated with attending ALA’s annual conference. The recipient will be a library practitioner who is new to the field of interlibrary loan/document delivery or electronic reserves, and who has daily, hands-on involvement in the areas of borrowing, lending, document delivery, electronic reserves, material delivery, or resource sharing. More information ...

RUSA thanks all of its Achievement Awards Sponsors!!

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more at .

Contact:

Bill Ladewski

Executive Director

RUSA

bladewski@ala.org