Michigan Library Awards 2021 | Michigan Library Association

The Michigan Library Association (MLA), the Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME), the Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA), the Library of Michigan and the Library of Michigan Foundation are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Michigan Library Awards.

The Michigan Library Awards are awarded annually and are considered the state’s highest honors within the library community. These twelve awards celebrate the excellence, accomplishments, dedication and service of outstanding libraries, library staff, trustees and supporters in the Michigan library community.

The 2021 honorees were unveiled on Wednesday, October 13 during the Michigan Library Awards virtual award ceremony broadcast on Facebook, with a special guest appearance by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Each recipient was chosen through peer review for their outstanding achievements.

The 2021 Heart of a Champion Award was awarded to Lyle Clarke of the Rawson Memorial Library. This award recognizes a library supporter who has shown an exceptional commitment to libraries or the library profession through continued advocacy and supporting or providing funding for their local library.

The 2021 Rising Star Award was awarded to Marissa Boisclair from the Genesee District Library. The Rising Star Award recognizes a librarian who shows leadership early in their career. While new to the profession, winners of this award are forward-thinking, expanding the role of librarian and moving libraries into the future.

The 2021 Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth was awarded to Sara Magnuson from the Kent District Library. This award is given annually to a Michigan library staff person who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of library service to youth throughout their career.

The 2021 Library Support Staff of the Year Award was awarded to Amy Beckman from the Millington Arbela District Library. This award recognizes a support staff professional who goes above and beyond to provide support at their library and who has advanced and strengthened the image of support staff.

The 2021 Public Librarian of the Year Award was awarded to Teresa Kline of the Fennville District Library. This award recognizes outstanding library professionals that inspire people, provide innovative library service to their community, promote collaboration among libraries, and show evidence of personal and professional achievement as well as initiative and creativity.

The 2021 School Librarian of the Year was awarded to Gwenn Marchesano from Pioneer Middle School in Plymouth, MI. This award celebrates and honors those who have championed school libraries through volunteerism, administrative support and advocacy.

The 2021 Academic Librarian of the Year was awarded to Rachel M. Minkin from Michigan State University Libraries. This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a librarian or library administrator and their contributions to their institution and academic libraries within the academic year 2020-2021.

The State Legislator of the Year was again awarded to State Senator Wayne Schmidt of the 37^th State Senate District. This award is presented to elected officials in recognition of outstanding leadership in promoting libraries and supporting legislation or amendments that advance our legislative goals.

Two State Librarian’s Citation of Excellence were awarded at the Michigan Library Awards. The first to the Willard Public Library in Battle Creek and the second to the Auburn Hills Public Library. These Citations of Excellence are awarded by the Library of Michigan Foundation and the Library of Michigan each year to highlight the importance of Michigan libraries’ services. The Citation of Excellence Awards are supported by Martin L. Gibbs in memory of his late wife, Carole Sorenson, and the Library of Michigan Foundation in recognition of former Executive Director Carolyn “Sparky” Mowery.

The State Librarian’s Excellence Award was awarded to the Bellaire Public Library and highlights the importance of Michigan libraries’ services and recognizes an exemplary library for its commitment to excellence. The State Librarian’s Excellence Award is sponsored by the Roger and June B. Mendel Fund through the Library of Michigan Foundation.

Heart of a Champion

The Heart of a Champion Award was awarded to Lyle Clarke of the Rawson Memorial Library. This award recognizes a library supporter who has shown an exceptional commitment to libraries or the library profession through continued advocacy and supporting or providing funding for their local library.

“Lyle is always considering the needs of library patrons and the community to ensure that we are providing the best service possible for one and all,” said Ruth Steele, Library Director at Rawson Memorial Library. “What really makes him stand out is that month after month, year after year, decade after decade, he has defended the policies of the library, supported the staff during difficult times as well as in the great times, and he has been a steadfast advocate for our community so that we have a quality library that serves everyone.”

School Librarian of the Year

The School Librarian of the Year was awarded to Gwenn Marchesano from Pioneer Middle School in Plymouth, MI. This award celebrates and honors those who have championed school libraries through volunteerism, administrative support and advocacy.

“Gwenn is a knowledgeable leader, thoughtful mentor, collaborative educator, generous and kind person,” said Kathy Lester, President-elect for the American Association for School Librarians and Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Michigan Association for Media in Education.

Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth

The Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth was awarded to Sara Magnuson from the Kent District Library. This award is given annually to a Michigan library staff person who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of library service to youth throughout their career.

“Sara embodies the spirit of the Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth,” said Lance Werner, Executive Director of Kent District Library. “She's passionate about libraries, which is huge understatement. Her dedication and commitment and enthusiasm are contagious, which is also a huge understatement. And her service to youth in our area has a lasting impact on our children, as well as our communities.”

Library Support Staff of the Year

The Library Support Staff of the Year Award was awarded to Amy Beckman from the Millington Arbela District Library. This award recognizes a support staff professional who goes above and beyond to provide support at their library and who has advanced and strengthened the image of support staff.

“I can assure you that this year’s award winner has gone above and beyond for her library,” said Sarah Rick, Library Director at Millington Arbela District Library. “Amy stood up and became interim director during a pandemic. She continued to follow up with staff, created a reopening plan and pandemic policy made applications for the Cares Act Grant and found alternate ways to run the summer reading program and regular programming.”

Public Librarian of the Year

The Public Librarian of the Year Award was awarded to Teresa Kline of the Fennville District Library. This award recognizes outstanding library professionals that inspire people, provide innovative library service to their community, promote collaboration among libraries, and show evidence of personal and professional achievement as well as initiative and creativity.

“Teresa has brought our library to another level with her strong Midwest work ethic and her caring and personable character,” said Michele Overweg Spans, Library Assistant at Fennville District Library, who nominated Teresa. “Patrons and staff know they can trust her to always lead with integrity. Her dedication to providing literacy programs materials and technology to our large, underserved and low-income population is admirable.”

Rising Star

The Rising Star Award was awarded to Marissa Boisclair from the Genesee District Library. The Rising Star Award recognizes a librarian who shows leadership early in their career. While new to the profession, winners of this award are forward-thinking, expand the role of librarian and move libraries into the future.

“Marissa is impressive in every way. Her knowledge of literacy issues, her technical skills, personality, work ethic and leadership qualities are all absolutely stellar,” said Kelly Flynn, Community Relations Manager at Genesee District Library.

Academic Librarian of the Year

The Academic Librarian of the Year was awarded to Rachel M. Minkin from Michigan State University Libraries. This award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of a librarian or library administrator and their contributions to their institution and academic libraries within the academic year 2020-2021.

“Throughout her time with Michigan State University Libraries, Rachel has continually gone above and beyond in service to her institution and her profession,” said David Votta, Director of Charlotte Community Library. “She is a mentor to many, someone who readily shares her knowledge. She is an advocate for all library types and has personally helped me become a better librarian. She raises the bar for all of us and helps us get over that bar."

Legislator of the Year

“Senator Schmidt was instrumental over the past two years in adding $3 million to state aid to libraries,” said Val Meyerson, Library Director at Petoskey District Library. “These types of increases take determination, time and lots of hard work.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Peggy Kitchel from the Grosse Pointe Public Library. This award recognizes a deserving librarian for their distinguished service to the library profession over the course of their career. Throughout their career, winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award have sustained a strong and consistent body of work, demonstrated leadership in their community and in the profession -mentoring and empowering library staff, providing innovative service to their community and enhancing the image and visibility of the library. They promote collaboration among libraries and librarians and have been a catalyst in special areas such as intellectual freedom, library innovation, outreach, and equity, diversity and inclusion.

“Peggy is always proactively looking for opportunities for all different staff to develop their skills, from technical skills all the way to things like stress relief and stress management and things that help us not only in our professional roles, but in our personal lives as well. Peggy has served as a mentor to countless librarians who have worked at the library over the years. And she has been an inspiration to community members as well,” said Jessica Keyser, Director of Grosse Pointe Public Library. “I can't think of anyone more deserving of a Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you to Peggy for her dedication to the field for all these years.”

State Librarian’s Citation of Excellence

“The Willard Public Library has a number of partnerships with the local schools, with the NAACP, with the Community Action Agency of South-Central Michigan, with a local Latin American heritage institute and others,” said Randy Riley, State Librarian, Library of Michigan. “Having partnerships when expanding library programs is important to them.”

“The Auburn Hills Public Library places a large focus on communication and connecting with their users. They are dedicated to finding the most appropriate way to reach and share information with their users.” -Randy Riley, State Librarian, Library of Michigan.

State Librarian’s Excellence Award

“As one of their supporters stated, “It's small in size, but large in heart”. The staff are amazing with kids and have great relationships with the community members. They provide a beacon of positivity through dark times and may all of our libraries function as that beacon of light in our communities.” said Randy Riley, State Librarian, Library of Michigan.

The Michigan Library Association (MLA) is Michigan's oldest and largest library association. For 130 years, MLA has led the advancement of all Michigan libraries through advocacy, education and engagement. MLA's membership is comprised of individual and organizational members from public, academic, school, tribal and special libraries. For more information visit milibraries.org.

The Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) is the statewide association for Michigan school librarians and those interested in K-12 media center topics. MAME has been providing professional development and advocating at the state and national level to provide a voice and stronger presence for K-12 library professionals. For more information visit mimame.org.

The Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA) is the professional association of academic library staff and libraries in Michigan. MiALA’s work entails providing professional development, serving as a catalyst for collaboration, and promoting the value and contribution of academic libraires. For more information visit miala.org.

The Library of Michigan was created by the Michigan Legislature to guarantee the people of this State and their government one perpetual institution to collect, preserve and provide access to the story of the State, and to support libraries in their role as essential community anchors. For more information visit: michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/

The Library of Michigan Foundation was established in 1985 to support and enrich the capabilities, resources and services of the Library of Michigan. The Library of Michigan provides opportunities for charitable giving to support Library of Michigan programs, collections and services not provided through state or federal funding. For more information visit: libraryofmichiganfoundation.org/

Uniting the Michigan Library Community

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