Application deadline: Monday, March 2nd 2009
- 2008 Josephine Bryant
- 2007 Fontayne Holmes
- 2006 Lynn Lockwood
- 2005 Carlton Sears
- 2004 Samuel Morrison
2008 - Josephine Bryant, City Librarian, Toronto Public Library (ON)
Toronto Public Library (TPL) Director Josephine “Jo” Bryant will be awarded the 2008 Urban Libraries Council (ULC) Urban Player Award for her role in successfully integrating seven distinct library systems into one and then, using the integration as an opportunity for the library to play a more central role in the lives of Torontonians. “Jo’s vision of amalgamation as an opportunity for TPL to play a more central and seminal role in the city has moved the Library into the mainstream of the city’s cultural life and economic promise,” said Kathy Gallagher Ross, Chair of the TPL Board. “She achieved this by working with the Board, reaching out to elected officials and the community, and by aligning the library with the city’s key objectives.”
2007 - Fontayne Holmes, City Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library (CA)
First as Facilities Division Director, then as City Librarian, Fontayne Holmes of the Los Angeles Public Library supervised and participated in every aspect of a 17 year construction program that forged an unprecedented coalition of the city's elected officials, business leaders and four million residents to support the largest library construction program in the nation and doubled library space citywide. As a result of her success, a record 15 million people visited the Los Angeles Public Library last year. Holmes' accomplishment as a community leader has become a model for other agencies in the city and for other library systems across the nation.
2006 - Lynn Lockwood, assistant director of Baltimore County Public Library (MD)
Lockwood is being honored for her leadership in forging a coalition of several community agencies to support emergent literacy in Baltimore County. Lockwood was the catalyst for the creation of an Early Childhood Action Committee to address early literacy and other issues of importance to young children in Baltimore County. The Committee developed an action plan – “Focus on the First Years” – that initiated county-wide improvements in child well-being, especially those relating to school success. The program has been so successful that the library created a new position -- Early Childhood Coordinator – to manage and coordinate the efforts. It now travels the county to provide materials and programs, assuring that even non-traditional library users benefit from the program. (ULC Press Release)
For those interested in learning more about the "Focus on the First Years" Project, please visit them at http://www.bcpl.info/firstyears/
2005 - Carlton Sears, Director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (OH)
“Carlton’s part in the development of Smoky Hollow is a wonderful example of the vital role library leaders can play and are playing in civic arenas,” said Martín Gómez, president of the ULC. Sears was key in creating a nonprofit corporation --Wick Neighbors, Inc. – aimed at redeveloping the historically important, but dying, Smoky Hollow/Wick Avenue District. In less than three years, the corporation has launched a plan that will bring 576 units of new housing and 238,000 square feet of new space for restaurants, cafes, neighborhood services, offices and manufacturing. Additionally, the project will establish more than eight acres of public green space, including gardens, an outdoor performance space and a central park. Sears’ leadership and infectious enthusiasm is credited with sparking both community involvement and ownership in the project. (ULC Press Release)
For those interested in learning more about the Smockey Hollow Redevelopment Project, please visit them at http://www.wickneighbors.org/smokyhollow/redevelo.html
2004 - Samuel Morrison, Director of Broward County Library (FL)
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. (ULC Press Release)
For those interested in learning more about the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, please visit them at http://www.broward.org/library/aarlcc.htm
* ULC would like to thank SirsiDynix for their sponsorship of this award through 2007. |
