The Vermont Library Association gives four awards for outstanding service to and support of the state’s libraries: Sarah C. Hagar Award, Trustee of the Year Award, Library Advocate of the Year Award, and Green Mountain Award.

The Sarah C. Hagar Award, named for the first president of VLA and a librarian at the Fletcher Free Library for 23 years until her death in 1908, is awarded each year for outstanding service in or significant contribution to the field of librarianship in Vermont. Nominees for the Sarah C. Hagar award must be working in a Vermont library and be a member of VLA. Examples of “outstanding service” include but are not limited to:

• providing outstanding service in one’s field of expertise such as children’s
  services, reference, technical services, or administration.
• providing professional library leadership in areas such as legislation,
  intellectual freedom, literacy, or writing.
• encouraging community support for and involvement with the library at the
  local or state level.

The Trustee of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a trustee on behalf of his or her library, either during the previous year or during his/her years of service. Nominations may be submitted by any library trustee, library board, librarian, member of a friends group, or VLA member. Examples include but are not limited to:

• seeking legislative action for programs that would benefit libraries throughout
  the state or region.
• leadership to increase the quality of library service.
• creating model programs to overcome a major local library problem.
• promoting public awareness and building support for the library.
• developing adequate physical facilities for a library.

The Library Advocate of the Year Award is given occasionally by the VLA Government Relations Committee to an outstanding public advocate for libraries in local, state, or national government.

The VLA’s newest award, the Green Mountain Award, is given as the opportunity arises to individuals or organizations for distinguished service, support, or unusual contributions to a Vermont library or libraries.

NOMINATIONS

To place a name in nomination, please send the nominee’s name, the name of his/her library, a letter explaining why this person should receive the award, along with your name, library,
telephone number, and e-mail address by March 1 to the address below. If a nomination is made by more than one person, please designate one signatory as the contact person. Letters of support from community members or colleagues are welcome.

VLA Awards Committee Chair
Grace Greene

Vermont Department of Libraries

109 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05609

802-828-6954

grace.greene@dol.state.vt.us

AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Sarah C. Hagar Award was created in 1990 to honor a Vermont librarian for significant contributions to the profession.

1990 Suzanne Gallagher, Lyndon State College Library
1991 Milton Crouch, Bailey/Howe Library, University of Vermont
1992 Joan Robinson, Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury
1993 Meris Morrison, Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro
1994 John Swan, Crossett Library, Bennington College
1995 Elizabeth Howlett, Joslin Memorial Library, Waitsfield
1996 Paula Baker, Rutland Free Library
1997 Patricia Klinck, State Librarian

1998 None awarded.
1999 Pat Hazlehurst, Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndon
2000 Grace W. Greene, Vermont Department of Libraries
2001 Janet Nielsen, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier
2002 Gail Weymouth, Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington
2003 Linda Wells, Craftsbury Public Library
2004 Trina Magi, Bailey/Howe Library, University of Vermont
2005 Cindy Karasinski, Goodrich Memorial Library, Newport
2006 Penny Pillsbury, Brownell Library, Essex Junction

The Trustee of the Year Award was first presented by the Vermont Library Trustees Association in 1967. It was awarded sporadically until 1986 when the award became an annual event. In 1992 VLTA merged with Vermont Library Association and VLA has made the award since that time.

1967 James H. Laubach, Jr., Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro
1970 Carlotta Raine, Brownell Library, Essex Junction
1975 Mary Fell, Underhill; and others
1979 John McDill, Norman Williams Library, Woodstock
1982 Jay W. Hawthorne, Aldrich Public Library, Barre

1986 Susan Tillotson, Annette Clowes and Carleen Musick, Brigham Free Library, Bakersfield
1987 Polly Quinn, Sarah Carpenter Memorial Library, Hinesburg
1988 Fred Moeller, Bennington Free Library (a long time friend of that library)
1989 Deborah Thomas, Alden Balch Memorial Library, Lunenburg
1990 Ralph Secord, Cobleigh Library, Lyndonville
1991 Jean Conklin, Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock
1992 Barbara Mieder, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston
1993 Joan Wise, Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington
1995 Margaret Miner, South Burlington Community Library

1996 Robert Ashcroft, Rockingham Free Public Library
1998 Ann Hazelrigg, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
1999 Phyllis Arata-Meyers, Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock
2000 Beth Merritt, The Charlotte Library
2001 Marcia Devino, Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
2002 John Nicholls, Aldrich Public Library, Barre
2002 Robert Harnish, Maclure Library, Pittsford
2003 No winner.
2004 Betsy Eckfeldt, Roxbury Free Library, Donna H. Swartz, Shrewsbury Library

2005 Angie Chapple-Sokol, Brownell Library, Essex Junction
2006 Kim Cushman, John G. McCullough Free Library, North Bennington

The Library Advocate of the Year Award is given occasionally by the VLA Government Relations Committee to an outstanding public advocate for libraries in local, state, or national government.

1999 Rep. Matt B. Dunn, Hartland

2003 U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders

The Green Mountain Award is given as the opportunity arises to individuals or organizations for distinguished service, support, or unusual contributions to a Vermont library or libraries.

1999 Linda Norton, Librarian, and Randy Rice, Trustee, Lincoln Public Library, for their deligence, grace, and good humor following the flood of June 27, 1998.

2003 Lois Noonan, Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes, for nearly 50 years distinguished service to her library.

2004 The Freeman Foundation, Stowe, for their generous support of Vermont public libraries.
2006 Patricia Belding, in appreciation of her documentation of the history and architecture of the public libraries of Vermont in her book, “Where the Books Are”.