Service Award Information

Nominate outstanding colleagues, volunteers, project teams, or libraries for an Arizona Library Association Service Award. AzLA membership and an MLIS degree is not required to nominate or receive a service award.

Download Service award information including instructions to writing a nomination and to see the rubric for each award. Deadline for nominations is Friday, August 22, 2025.

For questions please contact the conference committee at service.awards@azla.org

Submit a Nomination

Award Categories

Leadership Awards

Emerging Leader Award

This award is open to any person working in a library who shows exceptional promise as a leader in the field. The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals with strong leadership potential in order to encourage them to take on roles of increasing responsibility in library work. Individuals are not required to have an MLIS degree. Awardees will receive a free one-year membership to AzLA, if they are not already a member.

Newton & Betty Rosenzweig Distinguished Service

This award is presented to an active or retired layperson or librarian. Emphasis is placed on effectiveness institutionally, regionally or state-wide. Criterion includes significant accomplishments and leadership over the past five (5) years in Arizona. Individuals are not required to have an MLIS degree. Awardees will receive a free one-year membership to AzLA, if they are not already a member.

Outstanding Library Services Awards

For the purposes of these awards, a Library Service is defined as:
The ongoing, consistent offerings that meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of the library’s users. Examples include reference assistance, circulation, interlibrary loan, technology access, or readers’ advisory. Services are often embedded in daily library operations.

Outreach Services Award

The Little Chapel of All Nations, Tucson, provides a monetary award to the library, librarian, library staff, or library related group or person that provides exemplary library outreach services to unserved, underserved, or minority populations. Nominees must demonstrate notable and outstanding performance in producing, developing and promoting programs, services, collections, and reading activities for the unserved, underserved, or minority populations of their community.

Outstanding Service in Academic Libraries Award

The Outstanding Services Award in Academic Libraries is given to an individual at a university, college, or community college library who provides exemplary services, collection management and programs for students, staff and faculty. Nominees must demonstrate notable and outstanding performance in producing, developing and promoting programs, services, and collections in their academic libraries.

Outstanding Services in K-12 School Libraries Award

The Outstanding Services Award in K-12 School Libraries is given to an individual at a K-12 library who provides exemplary services, collection management and programs for students and staff. Nominees must demonstrate notable and outstanding performance in producing, developing and promoting programs, services, collections, and reading activities for students and staff at their K-12 libraries.

Outstanding Services in Public Libraries Award

The Outstanding Services Award in Public Libraries is given to an individual at a public library who provides exemplary services, collection management and programs for their community. Nominees must demonstrate notable and outstanding performance in producing, developing and promoting programs, services, collections, and reading activities for patrons of any age group in their public libraries and communities.

Sharon G. Womack Outstanding Library Technician

This award is given to an individual who has served as a model of the important role that the paraprofessional plays in providing quality library service and has exemplified an integral part of the paraprofessional performs as a library staff member. Nominees will be judged on the basis of demonstrated on-the-job excellence as noted by their supervisors.

Follett School Librarian of the Year

This award is given to an individual who serves as a model for implementing the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Standards. Follett School Library Resources sponsors this award and gifts a $500 Title wave voucher to the Arizona Teacher Librarian award recipient. Nominees must be certified school library media specialists (with or without MLIS) in Arizona who demonstrate notable or outstanding performance in the areas of collaboration with classroom teachers, educational leadership, technology, and advocacy for school libraries.

Library Volunteer of the Year

This award is open to any individual or group serving in a volunteer capacity in any library. Nominees should exemplify exceptional library service. Emphasis will be placed on activities that go beyond the standard requirements of good library service and the nominee's investment of personal time. Nominees must demonstrate activities that go beyond the standard requirements.

Outstanding Volunteer Coordinator

This award is given to an individual who demonstrates excellence and service in promoting, coordinating, and directing library volunteers. Individuals are not required to have an MLIS degree.

Innovation Awards

Innovation in Technology

This award is given to the library staff member, project team, or library who facilitated an innovative technology program demonstrating creativity, quality, and positive community impact. This award is open to all library types. Innovative technology programs should exemplify values of education or information, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and community engagement. Applicants need to show evidence of a positive public relations benefit occurring as a result of the program.

Innovation in Research

This award is given to the library staff member, project team, or library who facilitated an innovative research program demonstrating creativity, quality, and positive community impact. This award is open to all library types. Innovative research programs should exemplify values of education or information, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and community engagement. Applicants need to show evidence of a positive public relations benefit occurring as a result of the program.

Innovation in Community

This award is given to the library staff member, project team, or library who facilitated an innovative program by engaging, empowering, or partnering with the library’s community. This award is open to all library types. Programs should exemplify values of education or information, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and community engagement. Applicants need to show evidence of a positive public relations benefit occurring as a result of the program.