The annual RILA awards process provides the opportunity for special recognition of the accomplishments, service, and commitment of trustees, librarians, and others. The RILA Executive Board encourages nominations of deserving colleagues, associates, trustees, friends of libraries and other advocates each year. 

Outstanding Librarian Award

CRITERIA:

This award honors the career accomplishments of a librarian who has demonstrated an outstanding record of service to both his/her library and to the library profession, within the past year.  The nominee must be a member of the Rhode Island Library Association.  Guidelines for nomination include:

• Development of outstanding service in (a)field(s) of expertise, e.g. children’s, administrative, technical, instruction, etc..
• Involvement in statewide library activities.
• Record of professional library leadership.
• Encouragement of community/institutional support for library.

Outstanding Library Paraprofessional Award

CRITERIA:

This purpose of this award is to recognize a library staff member in a non-degreed support position who has made a significant contribution to the library work environment and/or libraries in Rhode Island. The nominee must demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following areas:

• Excels in his/her area of expertise and delivers exemplary service across operations at all levels;
• Promotes the development and recognition of the paraprofessional as an important and vital member of the library workforce;
• Plans and implements innovative and effective library programming or services;
• Increases public knowledge and understanding of library resources, needs, and uses;
• Develops relationships and fosters collaboration between all staff/departments;
• Serves the profession through local or regional committees and organizations.

Trustee of the Year Award

CRITERIA:

Any trustee of any library who has served on his/her board for at least three years is eligible for this award.  These are suggested guidelines, but by no means the only ones, upon which a nomination may be made:

• Nominee worked in a readily identifiable way to develop/improve library service to a community, or to a specific segment within the community.
• Nominee successfully lobbied for increased funding and/or resources for his/her library.Nominee fashioned a plan that successfully enhanced the library’s role in the community.
• Nominee was instrumental in networking with trustees of other libraries to foster cooperative planning or activities.

Meritorious Friend(s) of the Library

CRITERIA:

This award is conferred upon citizens who are neither librarians nor library trustees who have made outstanding contributions to quality library service. This award may be given to an individual or group.

Library Champion

CRITERIA:

This award is conferred on an intermittent basis to an individual who most successfully advances the cause of libraries on a local, regional, or statewide basis through work to support libraries and library awareness.

How to Submit

Awards are presented each year at the Association's Annual Conference. The RILA Executive Board will determine award recipients based on letters of recommendation. The 2024 nominations period is now closed. 

Past RILA Award Winners

2023

2022

2021

2020