Samuel Morrison, Director of the Broward County Library, will receive the inaugural ULC/Dynix Urban Player Award. The Urban Player Award was established in 2002 upon the death of Betty Jane Narver, trustee of the Seattle Public Library and Board Chair at ULC, and includes an individual award of $1,000, generously provided by Dynix. The Urban Player Award recognizes individuals in positions of library leadership who have also provided substantive community leadership during the past two years.

In making its selection, the Award Committee noted that Morrison’s work on the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center is a true example of the library and the library director making a difference in the neighborhood. "Mr. Morrison pursued community partnerships and worked with community leaders to find public and private funding to achieve the Library’s goals. His vision, persuasive powers, credibility, motivational ability, faith, perseverance and the respect that people throughout Broward County feel for him make him truly deserving of the first presentation of the Urban Player Award," said Susan Kent, Director of the Los Angeles Public Library and Chair of the Awards Committee.

According to the nomination, Morrison is a highly influential and respected player in revitalizing Broward County’s urban community. He has served on the boards of cultural, educational and civic organizations, and frequently makes personal donations to help fund projects. He also uses his influence to persuade other community leaders to make contributions. In 1995, Morrison announced plans to build a world-class African-American Research Library and Cultural Center on a desolate street in Broward County. He envisioned the Center as a place in which the history and culture of Africans in the Americas would be preserved and celebrated. The Center, with generous funding from public and private individuals and organizations, opened in 2002.

"As library leaders see opportunities in the civic arena to convene around economic development, improvement of public education, neighborhood enrichment and safety, etc., they enrich the communities they serve and create strong community presence for public libraries," said Joey Rodger, President of ULC. "This award underscores the vital leadership role these individuals take in such city and county agendas, and we are thrilled to recognize Samuel Morrison as the inspirational first recipient of the award."

Dynix, formerly known as epixtech, Inc., is a pioneer in the library technology industry, located in Provo, UT. Sponsorship of this award includes travel funds to attend the ALA Annual Conference where this award is presented as well as the $1,000 award check to the individual winner. Founded in 1971, ULC focuses its research, recognition and capacity-building services on crucial roles of public libraries in urban areas.