Committee Members | Purpose and Objectives

The Awards and Honors Committee reviews nominations for the OLC annual awards program and recommends to the OLC Board of Directors recipients for the various awards and honors that recognize outstanding performance by library staff members, trustees and Friends group members.

 

Committee Members

Amy Abernathy, Chair (2021)
MidPointe Library System
Work: 513-705-8535
aabernathy@midpointelibrary.org

Brett Neff, Assistant Chair (2021)
Akron-Summit County Public Library
bneff@akronlibrary.org

Michelle Ramsell, Past Chair (2021)
Tuscarawas County Public Library
Work: 330-364-4474 237
mramsell@tusclibrary.org

Missy Lodge (2023)
alodgenssg@sbcglobal.net

Elizabeth Muether (2023)
Mercer County District Library
Work: 419-586-4442
elizabeth@mercerlibrary.org

Emily Skunda (2023)
Perry Public Library
Work: 440-259-3300
emily.skunda@perry.lib.oh.us

Melissa Wagner (2022)
Wadsworth Public Library
Work: 330-334-5761
melissa.wagner@wadsworthlibrary.com

Jennifer Welsh (2022)
Stark County District Library
Work: 330-458-2743
jwelsh@starklibrary.org

Board Liaison: Mary Ellen Icaza
Staff Liaison: Jeanine D’Andrea

Purpose and Objectives

The principal charge of the Awards and Honors Committee is to recommend to the OLC Board of Directors recipients for the various established awards and solicit nominations and supporting materials from members of the library community.

Such solicitation may be accomplished through OLC publications, conference coverage, listservs, or by any other means the Committee deems both appropriate and applicable.

The Committee’s recommendations to the Board will include biographical information on the recipients as well as professional accomplishments, OLC sustained involvement, and other qualifying data related to the award criteria that made that particular person or group stand out as the best in its category. Award recommendations must be submitted to the OLC Board for formal approval at its July meeting.

Award recipients and nominators will be notified by the Committee and in writing by the OLC Executive Director, and if applicable, will also include correspondence to the Library Director and Board President.

Committee members will author/modify the Awards and Honors materials for presentation at the OLC Annual Convention and Expo, as well as oversee all publicity associated with the announcement of the awards.

The Awards and Honors Committee administers the following awards:

• Hall of Fame Librarian
• Librarian of the Year
• Service Excellence Award
• Diana Vescelius Emerging Leader Award
• John Philip Outreach Award
• Trustee/Board of Trustees Award of Achievement
• Ohio Friends of the Library Recognition Award
• Library Innovation Award

Objectives:

• Review guidelines and update as needed.
• Review award categories and criteria; recommend revisions to the Board as appropriate.
• Review Awards and Honors process and make recommendations.
• Promote participation in the awards process in various and creative ways, including video.