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Network Bulletin No.:    10-02 

Date:       January 8, 2010

Subject:    Awards                                                       
Index term:  2009 Network Library of the Year Award   
and Subregional Library of the Year Award

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is calling for
nominationsfor two awards: the 2009 Network Library of the Year Award and the 2009 Network Subregional
Library of the Year Award.

_Purpose of awards:_ The awards commend excellence, innovation, and
special achievement in providing library service to blind and physically handicapped individuals
in a calendar year.

_Eligibility:_ Only NLS network regional and subregional libraries may be
nominated for the awards.

_Schedule:_

February 1 March 12, 2010: Nominations accepted

March 15 April 16, 2010: Nominations considered

June 18, 2010: Ceremony held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

_Awards:_ Each award recipient receives $1,000, a plaque, a certificate
for the network library, and a copy of the certificate for the administering agency. A separate plaque
recognizing the recipients will be displayed at NLS.

_Selection criteria:_ Nominees will be selected according to the following
criteria. 

--Mission support the extent to which the library reached or exceeded the ALA Revised Standards
and
Guidelines of Service

--Creativity and innovation the extent to which the library developed new patron services or
marketed existing services in an exceptional manner

--Patron satisfaction the extent to which the library met the needs of its patrons during the year
                                     
                                  

_Nomination process:_ Libraries must be nominated by a patron, staff
member, or manager of a network library, or by a member of its
administering agency. Nominations must include a separate one- to
two-page library profile summarizing highlights, types of services provided, number of patrons, and other
supporting statistics similar to information contained in factsheets or annual reports. Submissions must also
explain how the nominee meets the appropriate criteria, citing specific examples and providing supporting
statistics for 2009. Nominations must not exceed one page (250 words) for each criterion. Please include no
more than three supporting documents, such as newspaper articles, reports, statistics, and commendations.
Submissions must include all supporting statements for each criterion and be in an accessible electronic format so
that blind selection panel members can read them.

_Deadline:_  All nominations must be received by NLS no later than__ March
12, 2010.__

_Submission:_  Nominators must include complete contact information (name,
address, phone number, and e-mail address) and describe their relationship
to the nominated library. All nominations and supporting documentation must arrive at NLS by Friday, March 12, 2010. Nomination documentation must be
in accessible electronic format so that blind selection panel members can read them. Nominations sent
by e-mail should have a subject line "Nomination 2009 Library of the Year." Send all nominations by e-mail
to [log in to unmask] or by expedited delivery service (FedEx or UPS) to the National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS/BPH), Library of Congress, 1291 Taylor Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20542-4960; Attn: Chief, Network Division. Do not send
nominations through the U.S. Postal Service. If your submission has not been confirmed by March 17, 2010, please contact Carolyn Hoover Sung at
(202)707-9300.

_Selection process:_  The nominations will be reviewed by a committee
consisting of six members: the chief of the NLS Network Division, who serves as chair and a nonvoting member; one representative from
each of the three consumer groups (American Council of the Blind, Blinded Veterans Association, and
National Federation of the Blind); and two representatives from public libraries (to be selected by the chair).
The committee will review the nominations and submit a list of finalists to the NLS director and the four
network regional conference chairs, who will recommend the final selections.

_Presentation:_  The awards will be presented during a luncheon at the
Library of Congress in Washington,D.C., on Friday, June 18, 2010. This special event honoring the Network Library Award winners
and their administering agencies will be featured in NLS News, other
Library of Congress publications, and in a national news release. NLS will
cover travel costs to the ceremony for a representative of each
winning network library and a representative of their administering agencies.

For further information contact:   

Carolyn Hoover Sung
Chief, Network Division
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