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LRL Awards

Legislative Staff Achievement Awards

Award Criteria: | Award Recipients

Individuals

This librarian has:

provided outstanding support to the state legislature or legislative institution
provided outstanding support to NCSL or the LRL Staff Section
enhanced the profession of special librarianship within the legislative context
demonstrated innovative approaches to the field of legislative librarianship
made a major creative contribution to enhance legislative library services in one or more of the following areas:

organization of information
integration of the library into the legislative process
excellent research products
publicity
excellence in reference services
managerial expertise
information technology
others

Institutions

This library has:

provided outstanding support or assistance to NCSL or the LRL Staff Section
maintained a professional, qualified staff
actively participated in professional library associations
contributed significantly to major developments in the field of legislative librarianship
demonstrated creativity in several of the following areas:

maintaining a collection that meets legislative needs
orienting new patrons to library services
targeting services to meet legislative needs
integrating new technologies into legislative services
alerting patrons to information resources
other

Awards Recipients

2008

Susan Gilley, Cartwright Library, Legislative Reference Division, Department of Libraries, Oklahoma

2007

Tracey Kimball, Legislative Council Service, New Mexico

2006

The David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library, Louisiana
Senate Law Library, Louisiana

2005

David Harrell, Legislative Library, Oregon

2004

Nan Bowers, Legislative Research Library, Nevada
Marian Rogers, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin

2003

Irene Stone,Reference Librarian, California Research Bureau

2002

Deborah S. Priest, Director of the New York Assembly Information Center.
The Legislative Research Librarians’ Staff Section recognizes Deborah Priest, director of the New York Assembly Information Center. Deb was instrumental in creating and organizing the Notable Documents Award presented by the LRL staff section each year to states that publish outstanding documents through print or other media. She helped develop the criteria used in judging these documents and helped arrange the publicity for the winners through State Legislatures magazine and State Government News. She still serves as chair of the Notable Documents Award Committee for LRL. She has made substantial contributions to the well-being of the staff section.
In her own library, Deb led the effort to introduce information technology through the development of proposals and selection of a vendor that specializes in archival document storage. This has provided access to older documents while freeing up valuable space for newer materials. She also sponsors training sessions for new staff to introduce them to the workings of the New York State Assembly. Deb is active with local professional librarians’ groups, encourages her staff to participate, and has fostered the professional development of her staff.
Dr. H. Rupert Theobald Legislative Library of the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
Marian Rogers, Managing Librarian
The Legislative Research Librarians Staff Section recognizes the Dr. H. Rupert Theobald Legislative Library for its contributions and services to the Wisconsin Legislature, the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau and the legislative librarians’ profession. The library houses a large collection of legislative research materials and a clipping collection dating back to the early 1900s. The library has an Internet presence through its catalog and monthly publications.
The library staff has been supportive of NCSL since its formation by attending conferences and seminars, serving as regional coordinator for the LRL Staff Section and making presentations at LRL events. This year also marks the 101th anniversary of the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. It served as a model not only for other state legislative research libraries, but for the Congressional Research Service as well.

2001

Elizabeth Furbush, Librarian for the Montana Legislative Reference Center

Elizabeth Furbush

Beth has been especially supportive of the LRL staff section through participation on committees and acting as current secretary. Her efforts as an LRL officer were exemplary, and her involvement in conference calls and producing excellent minutes all through the year is greatly admired. Beth has exhibited an active commitment to increasing resources for and expanding services to the state’s legislators, legislative services division staff, and the researching public. She automated the basic library collection, adding periodicals, newspapers and memo indexes. Her dedication to her profession has extended to involvement with the Legislative Librarians Research Section of NCSL. She also has been a member of the Core Collection Committee, the Librarians Helping Librarians Committee, the Notable Documents Award Committee and the LEGISNET Indexing Committee, providing article citations to NCSL for entry in its initial data base.

* * * * *

David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library of the Louisiana House of Representatives
The Legislative Research Librarians Staff Section recognizes the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library for excellence in service to the Louisiana House of Representatives and to the legislative librarians’ profession. The David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library is an outstanding legislative library in terms of the services provided to the Louisiana Legislature, collection of materials, innovative use of technology, and dedicated staff. The director and staff of the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library have provided support to the LRL Staff Section by attending the conferences and workshops, hosting the Professional Development Seminar for 2000, and making informative presentations to the LRL Staff Section.

Director Suzy Hughes was instrumental in the formation of the Legislative Research Librarians Staff Section in 1972. She secured a National Conference of State Legislatures/National Science Foundation State Science Engineering Technology legislative grant, through which the creation of the Louisiana Government Information Network was facilitated. The library is a leader among legislative libraries in preparing a periodical checklist that provides selective magazine articles of research value to legislative staff and to libraries. These checklists now are incorporated into a Web-based catalog system that is available to all legislative staff online as well as to members when they are in session. The library also has developed a weekly Internet service for members and staff to access current information, including hyperlink connections to research-orientated Web sites, online news articles and Web-based documents in full text.

2000

1999

Lynda C. Davis, for Library and Information Services of the Maryland Department of Legislative Services
Marilyn Johnson, Legislative Research Librarian, North Dakota Legislative Council

1998

Marilyn Cathcart for the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Clare Cholik, Legislative Librarian, South Dakota Legislative Research Council

1997

Sally Reynolds for the Texas Legislative Reference Library
Debbie Tavenner, Library Administrator, Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Updated 9/18/98

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1998 Notable Document Awards

In making selections for this award, legislative research librarians considered if the document:

Clearly displayed the title, author, publisher, and date.
Title reflected actual content.
Appeared relevant to an identifiable readership.
Significantly contributed to knowledge of concern to legislators.
Was innovative in presentation of materials.
Contained strong bibliographic/footnote entries.
Presented information accurately and clearly in an organized fashion.
Was published within the last two years.
Offered graphics that were readily grasped.
Compared state activites in an arena of contemporary legislative interest in a comprehensible manner.
Expanded understanding of government processes, functions, or relationships.
Attempted to provide balance and perspective from various sides in the political spectrum.

A "document" is one produced by a federal, state, or local government agency, by a foundation, consulting firm, or quasi-public or private sector organization. The format includes print, microfilm, CD-ROM, periodical/serial, or URL.

Documents produced by or under the auspices of NCSL's Legislative Research Librarians staff section are not eligible for the award.

1998 Award Recipients:

LRL presented the second annual Notable Documents Awards at Annual Meeting. The selection committee was Deb Priest (NY), Cathy Griffin (AZ), Anne Craig (IL), Beth Furbush (MT) and Nancy Hays (TX).
Documents submitted by legislative librarians were evaluated on subject matter, graphics, bibliographies, presentation and balance. The award recognizes excellence in documents that explore contemporary topics of interest to legislators and staff by presenting substantive material in an outstanding format. Look for an article about the awards in the October-November issue of State Legislatures.

The winners are:
Arizona Legislative Manual, Arizona Legislative Council
Clean and Green, Joint State Government Commission, Pennsylvania General Assembly
Minnesota Data Book for Legislators, Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives

Notable URL awards went to:
Florida Monitor, Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: Feedlots and Links to the World

Updated 9/16/98
If you have any comments or suggestions regarding LRL's Web site, please let us know.