This award honors the career accomplishments of a librarian who has demonstrated an outstanding record of service to both his or her library and to the library profession. The following categories suggest areas in which the nominee may have rendered significant service: Development of outstanding service in field of expertise, e.g. reference, children's services, administrative, or technical services; involvement in statewide leadership; encouragement of community/institutional support for the library. Preference will be given to nominees who have achieved in more than one area. The nominee must be a member of CLA.

This award honors an individual who has implemented a significant project or initiated an innovative program during the year. The achievement being honored should have had significant impact on the library, the community, or the library profession; and be timely, taking place within the past year. This award may be given to the same individual more than once. The Awards Committee reserves the right to present more than one Special Achievement Award.

This award honors an individual journalist or news organization for coverage of libraries and/or the principles of librarianship in an exemplary way during the past year. The nominee may be an individual, such as a reporter or columnist; an editorial board; or a news organization such as a newspaper, magazine, radio or TV station. Exemplary media coverage can be evidenced through editorials, features, news reporting and/or special event reporting. Coverage may focus on library issues such as services to special populations and other appropriate topics. Copies of articles and other material should be submitted with this nomination.

This award recognizes an individual for the demonstration of extraordinary personal courage in the defense of intellectual freedom; or for the implementation of a successful and creative project developed to raise awareness of intellectual freedom issues; or for a published work on intellectual freedom.

This award honors a full or part-time student in an approved graduate or undergraduate program, and enables the student to attend the CLA Annual Conference. A grant of $250 will be awarded to cover conference registration, meals, and accommodations. Applicants must be a member of CLA, and the winner must sign an agreement promising to attend the Awards Ceremony and to write a brief article on his or her impressions of the conference for Connecticut Libraries. Applications may be no longer than two typed pages and must include the following information: status of current library school studies, education, degrees and honors, statement of need, and completion of a narrative describing how attendance at the conference will assist the candidate's professional development.

This award promotes the role and image of library assistants and support staff in the library and information science fields. It also recognizes the importance of support staff and their image in the library profession. Nominees must be currently working in the library profession in Connecticut in a support staff position. Self-nominations will be accepted. Criteria for nomination may include any or all of the following: 1) outstanding service to the library profession, 2) exemplary involvement in library assistant activities at the local, state, regional, or national levels, 3) leading training sessions or submitting articles to professional publications (including local and state newsletters, online articles, etc.), 4) promotion of support staff development, or 5) noteworthy achievements in the local workplace.

This award recognizes library administrative staff who promote the role of library assistants and support staff in the library and information science fields. Nominees must be currently working in the library profession in Connecticut. Self-nominations will be accepted. Criteria for nomination may include any or all of the following: 1) promotion of support staff development, 2) exemplary involvement in library assistant activities at the local, state, regional, or national levels, or 3) publication of professional writing or presentation of professional programs/workshops on the role of support staff in libraries.

The CLA Children's Section awards the Faith Hektoen Award, recognizing: 1) Career achievement in the field of children's services, or 2) An outstanding program or project that has made a significant impact on library service for children in Connecticut. Nominations may be made by anyone in the library community, excepting current selection committee members. Read more...