Tuesday, Nov. 1st (ahem, tomorrow) is the deadline to submit your nomination for Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers list. That doesn’t leave you much time to nominate that person you met at ALA Annual whose efforts caught your attention. Or your co-worker who seems to be ahead of every trend. Or yourself! It may be that you don’t know anyone who fits the strict criteria. Oh, what are the criteria, you ask?
A M&S is a “leader in the library world” who is “innovative, creative, and making a difference”. Previous teen services-related winners have kick-started teen services in their branch, library system, and community. (One winner got gaming systems in all 20 branches in her library system!!) Others began a project on a small scale only to have it adopted by their surrounding community. Let me highlight a few previous winners so that you might be inspired to nominate someone or strive to be a contender for next year’s award.
1. I’ll start with a woman I have met on a few occasions. She spoke at a small workshop at my previous library, and at a few other, larger settings. Jamie Watson of Hartford County, Maryland is so high-energy, you cannot help but get a little excited when you hear her talk. Her humor and candidness is likely what attracts teens to her. She was recognized as a 2008 M&S because of her involvement with YALSA (Quick Picks Committee member), and because her blog was is syndicated by a Washington DC-area public TV station. *Traits to mimic: enthusiasm, blogging
2. One of 2010’s M&S winners was Monique Delatte, a librarian in Los Angeles, CA. This customer service oriented librarian has won grants for the La Puenta public library as well as the Rio Hondo College (where she is an adjunct professor) totaling over $57,000. Delatte serves a very impoverished community where low income and low education levels are common, so that money is more than needed. *Traits to emulate: grant-writing, customer service
3. Librarian Maureen Ambrosino took her role as Youth Services Consultant for Central Massachusetts Library System very seriously, and took the opportunity to teach her co-workers all about the benefits of working with and for teens. Maureen brought in trainers to teach staff members how to “work effectively with teens”, which resulted in a significant growth in the number of teen summer reading programs. *Traits to imitate: imparting knowledge on others, dedication
The efforts of previous M&S winners are noteworthy. They saw a need and they met it, usually with so much success that it garnered community- or state-wide attention. We can all strive to be Movers & Shakers. Even if Library Journal never recognizes our achievements, your teens, your coworkers, and your community will notice.
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