Purpose
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes a Maryland resident who has demonstrated effective library advocacy over an extended period of time and whose contribution to libraries transcends the boundaries of one county or political jurisdiction in Maryland.
Eligibility
Any Maryland resident who is not a library employee is eligible for the Award. No person may receive the Award more than once. Recipients might include:
- Library advocates, trustees or friends
- Legislators on the local, state or national level
- Elected or appointed government officials
- School/academic administrators
- Foundation/corporate leaders
- Attorneys who have successfully championed libraries
Criteria
The recipient of the Award will have provided successful and sustained advocacy or lobbying on behalf of library development, funding, services, customers or staff on the state or national level.
The Chair of the Awards Committee will forward the name of the Distinguished Service Award recipient to Chair of the MLA Legislative Panel for approval prior to submission to the MLA Executive Board.
Award Recipients: 1975 - Present
- 2026 - No Award
- 2025 - No Award
- 2024 - Delegate Dana Jones / Sharan D. Marshall
- 2023 - Simmona Simmons / Brian Frosh and Team
- 2022 - Senator Sarah Elfreth / Delegate Eric Ebersole
- 2021 - Al Martin
- 2020 - Senator George C. Edwards
- 2019 - No Award
- 2018 - Senator Nancy J. King
- 2017 - Wicomico County Library Board
- 2016 - Representative Michael Busch
- 2015 - No Award
- 2014 - Senator Barbara Mikulski
- 2013 - Joyce Dawson
- 2012 - No Award
- 2011 - John C. Staley / Senator Donald Munson
- 2010 - Senator Ulysses Currie
- 2009 - Norman Conway
- 2008 - Pat Foerster
- 2007 - No Award
- 2006 - Delegate John Leopold / Senator Thomas V. 'Mike" Miller
- 2005 - No Award
- 2004 - Tom Riggin
- 2003 - Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
- 2002 - Mayor Don Bradley, Hurlock, MD
- 2001 - Sen. Thomas McLain Middleton
- 2000 - Major F. Riddick, Jr.
- 1999 - Salvador Waller - Trustee Howard Co. / Judge Joseph Brown, PG Co. Trustee
- 1998 - Patricia Turner
- 1997 - Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
- 1996 - Davis McCarn
- 1995 - The Honorable Sheila Hixson
- 1994 - No Award
- 1993 - James A. Ulmer, III
- 1992 - Parris N. Glendening
- 1991 - Ann Green / Howard L. Stern
- 1990 - Reade W. Corr / Mary Lou Dewey
- 1989 - Charlotte Young
- 1988 - David Sumler
- 1987 - Charmaine S. Boyd
- 1986 - Charles McC. Mathias
- 1985 - Tyras S. Athey / Tom Riggin, Baker & Taylor
- 1984 - David Goldsmith, Joanne Goldsmith
- 1983 - Dorothy Beaman
- 1982 - James A. Sensenbaugh
- 1981 - John Hanson
- 1980 - William Snyder
- 1979 - Blair Lee, III
- 1978 - Offie Clark
- 1977 - C. Keating Bowie
- 1976 - No Award
- 1975 - Marion Satterthwaite