Annual Awards
Do you want to recognize that special library colleague?
Maryland Library Association is accepting nominations for its awards through November 15, 2024. Information on the awards can be found below. Awards will be presented at the MLA Conference in Ocean City, MD, May 7 - 9, 2025.
When submitting an application, please provide enough information and examples to make a strong case for your nominee.
Nominations are now closed.Â
The Maryland Library Association presents these awards:
Purpose
The purpose of the Maryland Library Association Distinguished Service Award is to recognize 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.
2025 Award Winner
No Award
Purpose
Maryland Library Association Honorary Membership recognizes a lifetime of significant contributions to libraries and librarianship.
Eligibility
Any Maryland resident is eligible for MLA Honorary Membership.
Criteria
The recipient of MLA Honorary Membership will have met these criteria:
- Provided sustained, effective and significant contributions to librarianship over the recipient’s lifetime on the state and/or national level, including contributions to libraries, library associations, library education and/or library advocacy
- Provided sustained, effective and significant contributions to librarianship based on the recipient’s achievements as an individual rather than as the representative of an organization, association or group of individuals
- Demonstrated sustained commitment to the mission, values and ethics of the Maryland Library Association
The Chair of the Awards Committee will forward the name of the Honorary Membership recipient to the MLA Executive Director to verify activities and contributions prior to submission to the MLA Executive Board.
2025 Award Winners
- Debby Bennett, Caroline County Public LibraryÂ
- Kerry O'Donnell, Wicomico Public LibraryÂ
Purpose
Honoring a collaborative effort to promote innovative library-based initiatives involving the community
Eligibility
All Maryland library staff are eligible.
Criteria
The Libraries Change Communities Award is presented to a collaborative community effort that recognizes positive achievements and promotes outstanding library-based initiatives in Maryland. The award recognizes good practice in any innovative library-related effort that involves communities, demonstrates imagination and innovation, and has the potential to be developed and adapted elsewhere.
Community can be defined in the broad or narrow sense depending on the collaborated effort (e.g. school or school districts, state or county agencies). The initiative should affect people’s lives for the better, contribute to equality of access, and impact the end users.
Please submit all of the names of the people who were essential to the initiative.
2025 Award Winners
- Nay Keppler, Baltimore County Public Library - Community Reading FestivalÂ
- Sarah Mullen, Michele Noble, and Vilma Sandoval-Sall, Anne Arundel County Public Library - Partnership with Seeds for Success
Purpose
This award is named after former MLA Executive Director Margaret Carty who was an outstanding mentor and colleague to new librarians and MLA members at various stages of their career. The purpose of the Maryland Library Association Emerging Leader Award is to recognize a MLA member working in a library who has demonstrated strong leadership potential and to encourage the recipient to assume an increasingly responsible role in librarianship.
Eligibility
Any MLA member with less than ten years of experience working in a library, has been a member of MLA for at least one year at the time of nomination, and is currently employed in a library is eligible for the Award. No person may receive the Award more than once.
Criteria
The recipient of the Award will have met these criteria:
- Demonstrated strong communication skills
- Demonstrated initiative and creativity
- Created a positive vision, communicated it to others and inspired and guided others to achieve it
- Played an increasing leadership role in libraries and library associations, including MLA
- Demonstrated a commitment to the future of library service in his/her work or professional activities
2025 Award Winner
- Alice Spencer-Knell, Anne Arundel County Public Library
Purpose
The purpose of the Maryland Library Association President’s Award is to recognize outstanding achievement in offering customer service and providing community leadership.
Eligibility
Any individual or library system that has positioned the library to make a positive difference in the community and has been recognized by the community for their impact.
Selection Process
The current President of MLA will recommend a recipient(s) for this award and send the name to the Award Committee for approval. Nominations will be sent to the President for consideration. Award will be presented at the Opening General Session (Wednesday afternoon) of the Annual Conference.
Criteria
The recipient of the Award will have met these criteria:
- Created a new or enhanced service to meet a community need; communicated it to others and inspired and guided other partners to get involved.
- Played a leadership role in the community.
- Demonstrated commitment to the future of libraries as important partners in reaching the goals of their community or their institution.
2025 Award Winner
- Sierra Walker and the Staff of Project Encore, Enoch Pratt Free Library
Purpose
The purpose of the Maryland Library Association Outstanding Member Award is to recognize a MLA member who has effectively provided sustained service to MLA and significantly enhanced its mission and goals.
Eligibility
Any MLA member is eligible for the Award. A member who allows his/her membership to lapse upon retirement from the library profession is eligible for the Award for up to 12 months after membership has expired. No person may receive the Award more than once.
Criteria
The recipient of the Award will have met these criteria:
- Provided effective and sustained service to MLA and its membership
- Enhanced the mission and goals of MLA through an elected or appointed position in MLA, including a position on the Executive Board, Advisory Council, committee or panel
- Demonstrated leadership in supporting library development, funding, services, customers and/or staff on the local, state and/or national level
- Demonstrated personal characteristics that make the recipient an inspirational role model for the diverse MLA membership
2025 Award Winner
- Tif Sutherland, Calvert County Public Library
Purpose
The purpose of the Maryland Library Association Outstanding Support Staff Award is to recognize a library paraprofessional or support staff member who has made a significant contribution to libraries in Maryland.
Eligibility
Any MLA member who does not possess an MLS degree is eligible for the Award. No person may receive the Award more than once.
Criteria
The recipient of the Award will have met these criteria:
- Promoted professional growth for, and solidarity among, library paraprofessional or support staff on the local, state or national level
- Demonstrated active support for library development, funding, services, customers or staff on the local, state or national level
2025 Award Winner
- Shirley Mason, Baltimore County Public Library
Purpose
The purpose of the Maryland Library Association Outstanding Volunteer Award is to honor any library volunteer in Maryland who exemplifies the positive impact that volunteers can make in libraries through their outstanding service.
Eligibility
Any library volunteer in Maryland is eligible for the Award. No person may receive the Award more than once.
Criteria
The recipient of the Award will have met these criteria:
- Made a positive impact on library development, services, resources or promotion
- Demonstrated sustained support for library customers, staff or other volunteers
- Overcame an unusual situation in order to volunteer or volunteered a significant number of hours
2025 Award WinnerÂ
- Lois Findlay, Anne Arundel County Public Library
Purpose
Honoring a team project exemplifying the highest level of achievement and professional standards.
Eligibility
All Maryland library staff are eligible.
Criteria
Project of the Year Award recognizes a project that showcases the highest levels of achievement, and professional standards and provides inspiration to other libraries. The project must have been operating during the calendar year, may involve more than one library. The committee considers the uniqueness of the project and the extent to which the library has improved its service and impact by means of the project.
Please submit all of the names of the people who were essential to the project.
2025 Award Winners
- Thomas Vose, Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County - Classic Buttons ProgramÂ
- Andrea Berstler, Carroll County Public Library - Mock Trial Camp
MLA also distributes the following awards through separate committees
Marketing Committee - Excellence in Marketing Award which recognizes the talent of communications and marketing personnel within Maryland libraries, ​while sharing ideas, learning from peers, and validating the importance of library marketing. Submission form.
Maryland Author Award Committee - Maryland Author Award
Blue Crab Award Committee (a division of CSD) - Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award