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The Notable Documents Awards are presented annually by the Legislative Research Librarians professional staff association. The award recognizes excellence in documents that explore topics of interest to legislators and staff, and present substantive material in an outstanding format. For purposes of the award, a "document" is one produced by a federal, state, or local government; quasi-government organization; foundation or non-profit organization. Eligible formats include print and electronic publications, periodicals, serials, or web sites.
Recipients have been chosen for the 2021 Notable Document Awards!
For more information please see the award criteria page for the nomination form and more detailed information on criteria and the award process
In making selections for this award, legislative research librarians considered if the document:
- Clearly displays the title, author, publisher, and date
- Title reflects actual content
- Appears relevant to an identifiable readership
- Significantly contributes to knowledge of concern to legislators
- Is innovative in presentation of materials
- Contains strong bibliographic/footnote entries
- Presents information accurately and clearly in an organized fashion
- Was published within the last two years
- Offers graphics that are readily grasped
- Compares state activites in an arena of contemporary legislative interest in a comprehensible manner
- Expands understanding of government processes, functions, or relationships
- Attempts to provide balance and perspective from various sides in the political spectrum
Each year's submissions are reviewed by a panel of experienced legislative librarians, rated using uniform standards, and ranked according to their scores. Categories for the awards are developed each year based on the selected documents.
2021 Notable Document Award Recipients
Awarded by the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Research Librarians staff section.
Communications
Corrections
Environmental Protection
Labor and Employment
Public Health
Public Safety
Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Molly Riley, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana. June 21, 2021
2020 Notable Document Award Recipients
Awarded by the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Research Librarians professional staff association.
Agriculture
Discrimination
Education
Innovative Study
Labor and Employment
Public Health
Public Records
Transportation
Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elaine Settergren, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.
June 9, 2020
2019 Notable Document Awards
Awarded by the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Research Librarians professional staff association.
Agriculture
Education
Elections
Fiscal Matters
Historical and Cultural Resources
Legislator and Staff Guide
Public Health
Public Policy
Special Investigation
Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Eric Glover, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Molly Riley, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.
June 26, 2019
2018 Notable Document Awards
Education
Intergovernmental Relations
Legislator’s Guide
Public Health
Seniors Policy
Transportation
Youth Policy
Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Eric Glover, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elaine Settergren, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.
June 26, 2018
2017 Notable Document Awards
Economy
Education
Intergovernmental Relations
Legislatures
Public Health
State Comparison
Notable Document Award Judges: Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Sabah Eltareb, California; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Molly Riley, Minnesota; and Jenna Steward, Louisiana.
2016 Notable Documents Awards
Historical and Cultural Resources
History of Legislation
Legislatures
Legislatively Mandated
Legislator's Guide
Performance Evaluation
Public Policy--Education
Public Policy--Health
Notable Document Awards Committee:
Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Sabah Eltarab, California; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; and Carol Blackburn, Minnesota.
2015 Notable Documents Awards
Constitution
History of Legislation
Innovative Presentation
Notable Online Resource
Performance Evaluation
Public Policy—Economy
Public Policy—Fiscal
Public Policy—Environmental
Session Summary
2015 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Shelley Day, Utah; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elisa Naquin, Louisiana; and Alyssa Novak Jones, Minnesota.
Archive | 1998-2014
2014 Notable Documents Awards
Guide—Education:
Historical and Cultural Resources:
Innovative Presentation:
Performance Evaluation:
Public Policy—Education:
Public Policy—Health:
Public Policy—Natural Resources:
State Comparison:
Statistical Analysis:
2014 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Shelley Day, Utah; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey
2013 Notable Documents Awards
Citizen’s Guide:
Fiscal Policy:
Historical And Cultural Resources:
Legislatively Mandated:
Legislator’s Guide:
Public Policy–Education:
Public Policy–Public Safety:
Natural Resources:
Performance Evaluation:
Notable Online Resource:
2013 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Frances Thomas, Louisiana
2012 Notable Documents Awards
STATE GOVERNMENT HISTORY COMPILATION:
PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS:
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:
PUBLIC POLICY:
2012 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Kristin Ford, Idaho, Chair; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota; Frances Thomas, Louisiana
2011 Notable Documents Awards
CITIZEN’S GUIDE:
- The Legislators of California - California State Senate
HISTORY OF LEGISLATION:
LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE:
MODEL HISTORICAL WEBSITE:
PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS:
PUBLIC POLICY—ENVIRONMENTAL:
PUBLIC POLICY—PUBLIC SAFETY:
2011 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Sabah Eltareb, California State Library, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota
2010 Notable Documents Awards
LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:
CITIZEN’S GUIDE:
- AIDS and the Law: What You Should Know: Laws for Older Adults - Illinois Legislative Research Unit
- Permitting in Montana - Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office
LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE:
PUBLIC POLICY- ENVIRONMENTAL:
NOTABLE ONLINE RESOURCE:
FISCAL MATTERS:
INNOVATIVE ARTICLE:
2010 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota
2009 Notable Documents Awards
CITIZENS' GUIDE:
- Special Education Primer for Charter Schools - Minnesota Department of Education
INNOVATIVE ADVOCACY:
- Montana Legislator READ poster series - Montana Legislative Services Division
LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:
- Idaho Transportation Department Performance Audit - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
LEGISLATOR'S GUIDE:
- A Minnesota Lawmaker's Guide to the Agri-Environmental Policy Landscape - Minnesota House Research Department
POLICY GUIDE:
- Visioning Kentucky's Future: Measures and Milestones 2008 - Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center
PUBLIC POLICY - EDUCATION:
- Feasibility of School District Services Consolidation - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
- Public Education Funding in Idaho - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
- Emerging Global Workforce Raising Education Stakes: Children at the Economic Margins Key to Sustaining Progress - Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center
PUBLIC POLICY - ENVIRONMENTAL:
- Technical Evaluation of the Emissions and Control Costs of High Global Warming Potential Gases - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division, etc.
- Biofuel Policies and Programs - Office of the Minnesota Legislative Auditor
- Carbon Sequestration Study - Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office
- The Price of Flame - Montana Legislative Services Division
2009 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota
2008 Notable Documents Awards
CITIZEN’S GUIDE:
- North Dakota Blue Book 2007-2008 - Alvin A. Jaeger, North Dakota Secretary of State
FISCAL MATTERS:
- 2008 General Session Appropriation and Budget Highlights - Utah State Legislature – Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst
INNOVATIVE STUDY:
- Voices from the Street: A Survey of Homeless Youth by Their Peers - California Research Bureau, California State Library
LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:
- Criminal Records and Employment in Minnesota: Report and Recommendations of the 2007 Collateral Sanctions Committee - Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
- Indicators of Efficiency and Effectiveness - Kentucky Office of Education Accountability
- Virtual School Operations - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE:
- Quick Guide to Committee Procedures in the House of Representatives & Quick Guide to Floor Procedure - Louisiana House Legislative Services
PUBLIC POLICY:
- Compensating Victims of Bridge Collapses Outside Minnesota - Minnesota Legislature, Senate Counsel
STATE COMPARISON:
- Waste Tire Recycling and Reuse in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania General Assembly – Joint State Government Commission
2007 Notable Documents Awards
CITIZEN’S GUIDE:
- Water Rights in Montana - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council
FISCAL SERIES:
- Profiles of Montana State Agencies - Montana Legislative Fiscal Division
LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:
- Split Estates: The Relationship Between Surface and Minerals - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council
- Use of Average Daily Attendance in Public Education Funding - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE:
- Tax Relief & Reform: What Does It Mean to Taxpayers? - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
PUBLIC POLICY:
- Delaying Necessities, Denying Needs - New York State Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation
- The Road to Privatization: Implications of Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Projects - Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis
STATE COMPARISONS:
- An Overview of California’s Low Emission Vehicle Program and Efforts to Implement It in Maryland and Other States - Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis
- The Road to Electric Restructuring in Maryland - Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis
2007 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota
2006 Notable Documents Awards
LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:
- Idaho School for Deaf and Blind Evaluation Report - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
- Report of the Advisory Committee on Geriatric and Seriously Ill Inmates - Pennsylvania General Assembly - Joint State Government Commission
CITIZEN'S GUIDE:
- Citizens Guide (series of five publications) - Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
- Utah State Government: A Citizens Guide - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
LEGISLATOR'S GUIDE:
- Understanding Medicaid: A Policymaker's Introduction - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
STUDENT'S GUIDE:
- Governing Wisconsin series - Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
PUBLIC POLICY:
- Improved Coordination and Information Could Reduce the Backlog of Unserved Warrants - Kentucky Legislative Research Commission
- Use of Social Security Numbers for Drivers' Licenses, Permits, and Identification Cards: Federal Mandate Review - Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
FISCAL MATTERS:
- A Fiscal Review of the 2005 Legislative Session - Minnesota Senate Counsel, Research, and Fiscal Analysis
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES:
- High Plains of Northeastern New Mexico: A Guide to Geology and Culture - New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
2006 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Carol Blackburn, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Kristin Ford, Idaho; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey
2005 Notable Documents Awards
BODY OF WORK--LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:
- Hydrogen, Wind, Biodiesel, and Ethanol: Alternative Energy Sources to Fuel Montana's Future? - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council
- Montana's Water--Where is it? Who can use it? Who decides? - Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council
CITIZEN'S GUIDE:
- Pocket Guides on Fiscal Matters (various) - Montana Legislative Fiscal Division
LEGISLATOR'S GUIDE:
- Gambling in Minnesota: A Short History - Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives
- Noncitizens and Minnesota Law: A Guide for Legislators - Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives
PUBLIC POLICY:
- Medical Professional Liability Reform for the 21st Century: A Review of Policy Options - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission
2005 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey; Sabah Eltareb, California
2004 Notable Documents Awards
BODY OF WORK:
- Public Interest Energy Research: 2003 Annual Report - California Energy Commission
- 2003 Integrated Energy Policy Report - California Energy Commission
BODY OF WORK--MONOGRAPHIC SERIES:
- State and Local Government in Louisiana: An Overview - Louisiana House Legislative Services
- Orientation Guide for Louisiana House Members - Louisiana House Legislative Services
EXCEPTIONAL TECHNICAL WORK:
- New York State 2004-2005 Executive Budget: Revenue Estimating Methodology - New York State Division of the Budget:
BODY OF WORK--LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED:
- The Funding and Benefit Structure of the Pennsylvania Statewide Retirement Systems: A Report with Recommendations - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission
- Minority Representation in the Jury Selection Process in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission
EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION:
- Mission: Protect and Restore Puget Sound, A Progress Report - Washington Puget Sound Action Team
2004 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana, Chair; Shirley Dallas, Washington; Penelope Dukes, Williams, Texas; Sabah Eltareb, California; Cathy Griffin, Arizona; Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey
2003 Notable Documents Awards
PUBLIC POLICY:
- Planning for the Future: Findings from Research on the Commonwealth's Current and Coming Retirees - Road Ahead: Uncertainty and Opportunity in a Changed World - Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center
- Nevada Natural Resources Status Report - Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
CITIZEN GUIDE:
- Electricity Law Handbook: A Montanan's Guide to Understanding Electricity - Montana Environmental Quality Council
LEGISLATORS' GUIDE:
- Understanding State Finances and the Budgeting Process: A Reference Manual for Legislators - Montana Legislative Fiscal Division
- Legislator's Handbook - Montana Legislative Services Division
SERIAL:
- Briefing Paper Series: Future of Highway Funding; Medicaid Spending; Controlling Costs: No Simple Solutions to Complex Issues; Senate Confirmation of Judicial Appointments; Tax Primer - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
REDISTRICTING & REAPPORTIONMENT:
- Demographic Profile of Legislative Districts - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
2002 Notable Documents Awards
NOTABLE DOCUMENTS:
- Nuclear Waste Dry Cask Storage - Minnesota House of Representatives Research Dept
- Youth and the Law: A Guide for Legislators - Minnesota House of Representatives Research Dept
- State of Nebraska: 2001 Redistricting - Nebraska Legislative Research Division
- Energy Policy Issues and Legislative Options - Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
HONORABLE MENTION:
- Five Shoes Waiting to Drop on Arizona's Future - Morrison Institute for Public Policy, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University
- Driver Distractions and Traffic Safety - Pennsylvania General Assembly Joint State Government Commission
- Tap the Power: Constitutional Highlights - Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
OUTSTANDING PROACTIVE E-UPDATE SERVICE:
- Studies in the News - California Research Bureau
- OLR Updates -Connecticut Office of Legislative Research
SPECIAL CITATION FOR DEPTH OF ANALYSIS AND SPEED IN PRODUCING INFORMATION VITAL TO GOVERNMENT:
- Impact of the September 11 WTC Attack on NYC's Economy and Revenues -New York City Comptroller
CONSISTENTLY OUTSTANDING CORPUS OF WORK:
- Kentucky Legislative Research Commission:
- CD-Roms: Acts of the General Assembly & Journal of the General Assembly
- Kentucky General Assembly Membership 1900-2000
- V1. 1900-1949 V2. 1950-2000
- Executive Branch Contracting for Services: Inconsistent procedures limit accountability and efficiency
- Impact Plus: Design of Medicaid - Funded Program for children with severe emotional disturbance results in rapidly growing expenditures and difficult policy choices
- Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center:
- Challenges for the New Century: Trends that will influence KY's future
- Foresight
- Education and the Common Good: Social Benefits of Higher Education in KY.
- Financing State and Local Government: Future challenges and opportunities
- Listening to Kentucky High Schools: Why some high schools Miss, Meet, and Exceed Predicted Post Secondary Outcomes
- Policy Notes: on issues of importance to KY's future
- Talking Back: Kentucky High School students and their future education plans
2001 Notable Documents Awards
GUIDES FOR MEMBERS
- Orientation Guide for Louisiana House Members, 2000-2004 Term - Louisiana House of Representatives
- Quick Guide to Floor Procedure in the Louisiana House of Representatives - Louisiana House of Representatives
- State and Local Government in Louisiana: An Overview, 2000-2004 Term - Louisiana House of Representatives
PUBLIC POLICY
- Eminent Domain in Montana and Improving the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Process - Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office
- Shock of the New: Changes in the Generation, Transmission, and Distribution of Electricity in Montana - Montana Legislative Services Division, Lois Menzies, Executive Director
- Too Much, Too Little, Too Late: An Assembly Investigation of CONNECTIONS -New York's Statewide Child Welfare Computer System - New York Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation
CITIZEN GUIDE
- When You Are Concerned: A Guide for Families Concerned About the Safety of an Older Driver - New York State Office for the Aging
2001 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Deb Priest, New York, chair; Robbie LaFleur, Minnesota; Sabah Eltareb, California; Cathy Griffin, Arizona
2000 Notable Documents Awards
Notable Documents:
- Minnesota Budget: A Fiscal Policy Analysis - Minnesota State Senate, Office of Fiscal Policy Analysis
- Nevada State Water Plan - Nevada Division of Water Planning, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Positioning Arizona to Achieve Maximum Benefit from the Information Economy - Arizona Legislature, Joint Legislative Study Committee on the Internet
Serial Award:
- Ohio LBO Policy Briefs - Ohio Legislative Budget Office
- Session Weekly - Minnesota House of Representatives, Public Information Office
1999 Notable Documents Awards
Notable Documents:
- Arizona Blue Book - Arizona Secretary of State
- Dilemma in the Millennium: Capital Needs of the World's Capital City - Comptroller of the City of New York
- Insurance Discrimination: Against Victims of Domestic Violence - Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Women's Law Project
Serial Award:
- Perspectives - New York State Assembly Committee on Ways and Means
URL Award:
- http://www.leginfo.state.sc.us/ - South Carolina Legislative Information Systems
Special Award for Consistently Outstanding and Comprehensive Quality of Publications:
- Montana Environmental Quality Council
- Texas Legislative Budget Board
1998 Notable Documents Awards
Notable Documents:
- 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:
- Florida Monitor - Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
- Feedlots and Links to the World - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
1998 Notable Documents Awards Committee:
Deb Priest, New York; Cathy Griffin, Arizona; Anne Craig, Illinois; Beth Furbush, Montana; Nancy Hays, Texas