Virginia Library Association Awards
by Alyssa Altshuler
George Mason Award
The Virginia Library Association sponsors one association-wide award, the George Mason Award. This award is presented to an individual librarian; to a library; to an individual or organization distinguished for advocacy of libraries and/or information access; or to an institution, business, or academic program whose activity has contributed to the development, growth, and extension of library and information services in the local community, the state, or the nation. An award is not necessarily given every year.
George Mason Award
Year Name Library or Institution 1986 A. L. Philpott Delegate, Virginia General Assembly 1987 C. E. Charitable Trust C. E. Charitable Trust 1990 Robert B. Ball Delegate, Virginia General Assembly 1991 Lawrence Reed O’Brien Sr. Virginia Educational Vendors Association 1993 Ida Patton Library of Virginia 1994 Theresa Byrd J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College 1995 Linda L. Krantz Rockbridge Regional Library 1996 Marjorie Morgan Freeman Lynchburg College 1997 Dennis E. Robison James Madison University 1998 Chryssi Maria Dessypris Library of Virginia 1999 Phillip West Cancer Resource Center Williamsburg Regional Library 2000 Nelson Worley Library of Virginia 2002 Hon. John H. Chichester Senator, Virginia General Assembly 2003 Linda Hahne Virginia Library Association 2004 Ann Friedman Arlington County Public Library 
George Mason Award winners Linda Hahne, 2003, and Dennis Robison, 1997.
Trustee Library Award
The Trustee Library Award is presented in recognition of distinguished service to libraries or a library in Virginia. The trustee honored may have served on the local, state, regional, or national level, or at a combination of levels. An award is not necessarily given every year.
Trustee Library Award Year Name Library or Institution 1981 Mary R. Jamieson
Jack RobertsonRappahannock County Library
Virginia Beach Public Library1988 Virginia Kelly
Sara V. KylePulaski County Library
Carroll County Regional Library1990 Jean Mehler
Joyce Phillips
James McEckronWaynesboro Public Library
Prince William Public Library
Augusta County Library1991 Cynthia Ghaemmaghami
Eleanor Smith
Lurlene WilloughbyChesapeake Public Library
Central Rappahannock Regional Library
Loudoun County Public Library1993 Betty Cullota
Andrew McCutcheon Jr.Rockbridge Regional Library
State Library Board1994 Donald C. Kiscaden Staunton Public Library 1996 R. Frank Tobin Central Rappahannock Regional Library 1997 Stephen E. Story Norfolk Public Library 1998 Phylis A. Salak Fairfax County Public Library 1999 Linda Conti-White Loudoun County Public Library 2000 George M. Van Sant Central Rappahannock Regional Library 2001 Marjorie Cooper Bedford Public Library 2003 Betty Jane Simpson Blue Ridge Regional Library 2004 Richard “Dick” M. Hamrick Jr. Staunton Public Library Friends of the Library Award
The Friends of the Library Award is presented annually to one or more Friends groups in recognition of distinguished service to libraries or a library in Virginia. An award is not necessarily given every year.
Friends of the Library Award Year Friends 1988 Handley Regional Library 1989 Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Richmond Public Library 1990 George Mason Regional Library Salem Public Library Virginia Beach Public Library Boatwright Library at the University of Richmond 1991 Waynesboro Public Library Central Rappahannock Regional Library 1992 Buckingham County Library Charlotte County Library John McMahon of the Newport News Public Library West Point Branch, Pamunkey Regional Library, and the West Point Literary Club 1993 Chesterfield County Public Library Fairfax City Regional Library George Mason Regional Library Reston Regional Library 1994 Chesterfield County Public Library Williamsburg Regional Library 1995 Lynchburg Public Library Richmond Public Library 1997 Victoria Public Library of Southsheaderse Regional Library 1998 Chesterfield County Public Library 1999 Virginia Beach Public Library 2000 George Mason Regional Library 2001 Newport News Public Library 2002 Washington County Public Library 2003 Goochland Branch of the Pamunkey Regional Library Honorary Life Members
Eligibility for an honorary life membership is confined to trustees or former trustees, Friends of Virginia libraries, and Virginia librarians and paraprofessionals who have held membership and who have made outstanding contributions to Virginia librarianship.
Names and information on nominees are approved by the VLA Council and appear on the annual ballot to be voted on by the membership. Members may vote on more than one nominee, and more than one may be elected. A majority of fifty percent plus one of those voting determines life membership. Acceptance of nominees by the membership bestows on the honorary life member full benefits of membership without dues. An award is not necessarily given every year.
Honorary Life Members Year Name Library or Institution 1980 Elizabeth Cooper Chesterfield County Public Library Elizabeth A. Scott Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Lucille Dobson Snow Roanoke College, Hollins College 1981 Jane B. Nida Arlington County Public Library Ida Mae Leatherman Richmond Public Library Raymond E. Williams Jefferson-Madison Regional Library 1982 Katherine M. Smith Library of Virginia Frank C. Shirk Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Henry James Jr. Sweet Briar College 1983 Robert Ball Delegate, Virginia General Assembly Mary Ester Grubb Loudoun County Public Library Sterling Bagby Halifax County South Boston Regional Library Alice Bauer University of Virginia Miller Boord Randolph Macon Woman’s College Margaret Sue Carpenter City of Richmond Public Schools Marjorie Dennin Northern Virginia Community College Mary Frances Propst Southside Regional Library Crimora Waite Culpeper Town and County Library Bess P. Walford Philip Morris 1984 H. Gordon Bechanan Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Mary A. Marshallv Delegate, Virginia General Assembly Hannah McLay Virginia State Library Consultant Mary Elizabeth Mather City of Richmond Public Schools John H. Robertson Virginia Beach Public Library Howard M. Smith Richmond Public Library 1985 Maurice D. Leach Jr. Washington and Lee University J. William Doswell VLA Lobbyist M. Patricia Carey Fairfax County Public Library Mary Lynch Molyneux Bedford Public Library Richard M. Bagley Delegate, Virginia General Assembly Sarah W. Crews Library of Virginia Verdelle V. Bradley Virginia Union University 1990 Bertha W. Edwards Portsmouth Community Library Jane Lego Norfolk Public Libraryv 1991 Gladys Caywood Newport News Public Schools Florence Chandler Theda Gibson Lonesome Pine Regional Library Martha LeStourgeon Longwood College Sarah Wallace 1992 Beverly Bagan City of Richmond Public Schools Elizabeth Browning Henrico County Public Schools Ray W. Frantz University of Virginia Jeanne G. Plitt Alexandria Library William C. Pollardv Mary Baldwin College Marjorie Tallichet Alexandria Library Betty Wooldridge Blue Ridge Regional Library 1994 Catherine Vaughan 1995 Jim Gaines Virginia Military Institute 1996 Beth Askew Nelson County Public Library Dale W. Brown Arlington County Schools Dean Burgess Portsmouth Public Library 1998 Dennis E. Robison James Madison University 1999 Ruth J. Turner Fairfax County Public Library Rebecca Laine Longwood College 2001 Terry Sumey Lynchburg College 2002 Carolyn Tate University of Richmond Jefferson Cup Award
The Jefferson Cup Award honors a distinguished work of American biography, historical fiction, or history for young people. The Youth Services Forum of the Virginia Library Association has presented this award annually since the 1982 publishing year. Through the award, the Youth Services Forum seeks to promote reading about America’s past; to encourage quality writing of United States history, biography, and historical fiction for young people; and to recognize authors in these disciplines.
Jefferson Cup Award Year Author Title 1983 Milton Meltzer The Jewish Americans: A History in Their Own Words, 1650-1950 1984 Paula Spencer Underwood Who Speaks for Wolf: A Native American Learning Story as Told to Turtle Woman Singing by Her Father, Sharp-Eyed Hawk 1985 Bette Bao Lord In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson 1986 Patricia MacLachlan Sarah, Plain and Tall 1987 Margaret Rostkowski After the Dancing Days 1988 Russell Freedman Lincoln: A Photobiography 1989 Virginia Hamilton Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive Slave 1990 Carolyn Reeder Shades of Gray 1991 Russell Freedman Franklin Delano Roosevelt 1992 Russell Freedman The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane 1993 Jerry Stanley Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp 1994 Jim Murphy Across America on an Emigrant Train 1995 Patricia Polacco Pink and Say 1996 Jim Murphy The Great Fire 1997 Jean Thesman The Ornament Tree 1998 Leon Walter Tillage Leon’s Story 1999 Gary Paulsen Soldier’s Heart: Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers 2000 Katherine Paterson Preacher’s Boy 2001 Jim Murphy Blizzard: The Storm That Changed America 2002 Elisa Carbone Storm Warriors 2003 Chris Crowe Mississippi Trial, 1955 2004 Kristine L. Franklin Grape Thief
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