AkASL Grants and Awards Information

Congratulations to 2010 Award Winnners!

SLOY Award Winner
Joan McMains, Northwood Elementary, Anchorage

Leslie McClusky from Follett Library Company presents Joan McMains' Principal, Greg Balcao, with the SLOY 2010 award and $500 check in Anchorage. Balcao later presented the award to McMains.

This year’s recipient of the AkASL School Librarian of the Year is Joan McMains, librarian at Northwood Elementary School in the Anchorage School District. 

Many staff members wrote recommendations for her, and all of them included praise for her outstanding, school-wide leadership and activism in the area of literacy.  In addition to her “regular” job description Joan contributes to staff professional development, brings an atmosphere of literacy to the entire school environment, is collaborator and inspiration for reading projects including Battle of the Books and Lights on for Reading, she sought out opportunities of Artists In the Schools grants and has been a tireless advocate for literacy interventions. As one Northwood teacher wrote, “Joan is calm, kind and inspirational but in addition to being nice is also a good librarian!” Joan is retiring at the end of this school year and she will be missed.

One glowing staff member reports, “Joan McMains exhibits the finest qualities of an elementary school librarian; a love of readers of all ages and skill levels, and enthusiasm for stories – both classic and new, and a sense of fun that captures the imagination of budding minds.  The library is the heart of the school and this School Librarian of the Year keeps it beating!”

2010 Linda K. Barrett Service Award Winner
Suzanne Metcalfe, Dimond High School, Anchorage

The recipient of the Linda K. Barrett service award is Suzanne Metcalfe, librarian at Dimond High School in the Anchorage School District. 

Suzanne walked into the position of librarian through the door of teaching English.  She recognized that her interests and skills could also be applied in the library!  What are those skills?  She is professional, caring, welcoming and encouraging and most importantly for those active in a service organization like the Alaska School Library Association, she is democratic!  She goes the extra mile and seeks opinions of others and is willing to do the work required to help the organization get to the next level.  She edited the AkASL newletter, The Puffin, for 4 years before being called early into the position of AkASL President, filling the vacated position with grace and charm.

• AkLA Conference Professional Development Grant & Grant Application
• School Library Media Specialist/School Librarian Jo Morse Scholarship (links to AKLA web site.)
  

• AkASL School Librarian of the Year Award - SLOY Online Nomination Form
• AkASL Linda K. Barrett Service Award - LKB Service Award Online Nomination Form
• AkASL Administrator: "Pat on the Back" Award - Pat on the Back Nomination Form
• Lifetime Honorary Membership to AkASL

School Librarian of the Year Award and
School Librarian Merit Award Criteria

The Alaska Association of School Librarians gives the annual School Librarian of the Year (SLOY) award to an Alaska school librarian who:

• Operates a library program that strives toward the goals set forth in Information Power; Building Partnerships for Learning.
• Promotes the development of independent lifetime readers and learners.
• Is a certified librarian currently working in a library position.
• Is an integral part of the educational team.
• Exemplifies professional involvement by sharing expertise with colleagues both locally and around the state.
• Demonstrates professionalism by being a member of AkASL and other professional organizations.

Each school year, administrators, educators, and librarians are encouraged to nominate a school librarian who has been a help and inspiration to them.

Each librarian nominated will receive a School Librarian Merit Award Certificate
from the Association.

From those receiving a Merit Award one person who most exemplifies the Merit Award goals will be named the School Librarian of the Year (SLOY).  The SLOY will receive a special award certificate, and be presented with a monetary award traditionally donated by Follett Library Company.

Directions: Complete and submit online nomination form and send supporting documentation such as letters, photos, etc. separately either via email or snail mail to the address below. If you can not complete the online form you can mail in a printed form being sure to complete all fields.

SLOY Online Nomination Form

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Past Recipients of AkASL School Librarian of the Year Award:

1985 Roz Goodman Kodiak, 1986 Laila Tedford Juneau, 1987 Sue Jensen-Paulsen Petersburg, 1988 Judy Arteaga Ketchikan, 1989 Della Matthis Anchorage, 1990 Mollie Bynum Anchorage, 1991 Phyllis Cooper Homer, 1992 Kelley Smith Soldotna, 1993 Barbara Jones Wasilla, 1994 Ellen McKelvey Anchorage, 1995 Carol Dallman Kenai, 1996 Lynn Hallquist Anchorage, 1997 Lois Rhodes Sitka 1998, Tiki Levinson Naknek 1999, Jan Fortune Fairbanks, 2000 Linda Masterson Anchorage, 2001 Sue Hagedorn Anchorage, 2001 Linda Thibodeau Juneau, 2002 Barbara Bryson Valdez, 2002 Ann McCann Fairbanks, 2003 Lois Petersen Unalakleet, 2004 Faith Johnson Anchorage, 2005 shared by Robin Turk Mat-Su and Katie Sanders Fairbanks, 2006 Suzanne Richards Kilbuck Elementary Bethel, 2007 Lynn Ballam North Pole Middle School North Pole, 2008 Veronica Cavanaugh Wasilla Middle School Wasilla, 2009 Kari Sagel Blatchley Middle School.

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Linda K. Barrett Service Award Criteria

The Alaska Association of School Librarians gives an annual award to an Alaska school librarian who:

• Be a member of AkASL
• Have demonstrated outstanding service to the school library profession.
• Those services should include both state and local activities.

LKB Service Award Online Nomination Form

Directions: Complete and submit online nomination form and send supporting documentation such as letters, photos, etc. separately either via email or snail mail to the address below. If you can not complete the online form you can mail in a printed form being sure to complete all fields.

Mail completed form and/or supporting documentation to:
Veronica "Bonnie" Cavanaugh
650 Bogard Road
Wasilla AK 99654
OR submit electronically to:

Veronica_Cavanaugh@matsuk12.us

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Past Recipients of the AkASL Linda K. Barrett Service Award:

1987 Phyllis Davis Juneau
1988, Mollie Bynum Anchorage
1989 Ann Symons Juneau
1990 Roz Goodman Bering Strait
1991 Kari Mohn Kenai
1992 Harriet McClain Sitka
1993 Allan McCurry Yukon Koyukuk
1994 Della Matthis Anchorage
1995 Lois Petersen Kotzebue
1996 Mickey Templin Anchorage
1996 Pat Wamsley Wasilla
1997 Linda Masterson Anchorage
1998 Bonnie Cavanaugh Palmer
1999 Gaylin Fuller Fairbanks
2000 Sue Sherif Fairbanks
2001 Bob VanDerWege Kenai
2002 Teresa Paulsen Tok
2003 Tiki Levinson Naknek
2004 Shelly Logsdon Wasilla
2005 Cathy Boutin Juneau
2006 Mary Hacker Lake Hood Elementary Anchorage
2007 Valerie Oliver Trailside Elementary, Anchorage & Alaska State Library E-Rate
2008 Barb Bryson, Valdez
2009 Robin Turk, Palmer

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Administrator "Pat on the Back" Award Criteria

See list of 2010 Awards

Pat on the Back Nomination Form

The Alaska Association of School Librarians offers annual recognition to school administrators who support School Library Information Programs and contribute to the advancement of the School Librarian as an agent for raising student achievement.

The administrator should demonstrate:

• Leadership in advocating for library media staff, facilities, collection, equipment and staff development opportunities.
• Support for library media services that provide learning opportunities and curriculum support for all students.
• Promotion of library information programs.

Eligibility: 

Administrators who beneficially impact school libraries at any level.  Nominations may be made by building or district level school librarians.

To nominate an administrator please submit:

• Name of administrator
• Job title of administrator
• District name and address
• A brief narrative that explains how the administrator has contributed to the advancement of the library program in your school or district.

Honorary Lifetime Membership to AkASL

Lois Petersen
Della Mathis
Roz Goodman
Jo Morse

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