Library Worklife

Volume 3, No. 10 • October 2006

Spotlight

The NYT Librarian Award

Recognition Overdue

By Tracey Simon

One day in 1998, Alyse Myers, then vice president of marketing for The New York Times, was scanning the paper when a feature about the opening of the newly remodeled Flushing Branch of the Queens Borough Public Library caught her attention. Although the article focused on the extremely diverse clientele, Ms. Myers began to wonder about the people who served them. Who purchased the books in 40-plus languages? Who answered the questions for those whose limited knowledge of English made it difficult to ask them? Who made it possible, through a wide range of programs, for new Americans to become "true Americans?"

The answer came with the establishment of The New York Times Librarian Award program, which, according to the press announcement in 2001, was created "to recognize those individuals who provide outstanding community service on a consistent basis." The competition initially turned the spotlight on public librarians in New York City ’s five boroughs. It now has spread nationwide, with 27 winners last year and growing.

One of the earliest winners (2002) was 30-year veteran Anita LaSpina, Head of Children’s Services at the Rockville Centre Public Library, Nassau County, New York. Rhoda Friedland, the former Rockville Centre library director who had hired Anita, initially nominated her, but as word got around about the competition, members of the community began to write their own entries.

"They wrote beautiful letters stating how important the library was in their lives and the lives of their children, and the role I had played in fostering a love of reading in their children," said Anita. She found the outpouring both touching and humbling, and the feeling she got at the Times’ reception for the winners was no different. "To be in the company of so many dedicated librarians was awe-inspiring."

And the honors didn’t stop there. The Rockville Centre community and her co-workers fussed all over her. "I was pictured on our website, written up in the local newspaper, and was given a party at a restaurant. Staff, board members, community members, family and friends came and showered me with kind words." Her biggest thrill was the gift they presented her with at the party—a red kayak.

As for the $2,500 award from the Times, Anita donated it to the library. "I felt it truly belonged to the children of our community," she explained. "It was used to purchase a computer station and stools for the Children’s Room. It gives me such pleasure to see it utilized each day by the children and parents."

Jeanne Lamb, one of 2003’s winners, is currently Assistant Coordinator of Children’s Services for New York Public Library, and her average day finds her either in her office or at one of the many branches of NYPL, such as the Chatham Square Library in Chinatown or at the new library in the Bronx . She mentors other librarians, and coordinates programming and literacy initiatives, work that she considers "very exciting and interesting, with lots of energy in the air."

When she was nominated by her boss in 2003, she was working as a children’s librarian at the Donnell Library in midtown Manhattan . The honor was a total surprise. "I got to my desk and saw the red message light on my phone. The message said someone had called from the Times and I figured that another reporter needed to know something about "Winnie the Pooh" (the original bear is on display at the library). I called back and asked them what they would like to know. They didn’t want to know anything.they wanted me to know that I had won. The whole thing was delightful, absolutely delightful." She felt the award also belonged to her boss and the people at the library in the Bronx where she first started working because they had mentored her.

"At first I was a little shy about it (being recognized at the reception). There are so many other librarians, and you see what these other people are doing for their communities," Jeanne said.

"A lot of people working in professions like librarianship, nursing, and teaching are the backbone of their communities, and are vital to the health of a community. You need to look at the libraries, the schools, the hospitals, your volunteer firefighters, etc., .they’re a barometer of how your community is doing."

Winning the award was just as big a surprise to Guadalupe (Lupe) Canales, a surprise she nearly missed out on because the Times couldn’t locate her. When she was nominated in 2003, she was a senior librarian at the Van Nuys Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, but during that year, the branch had closed for renovations, and no one was answering the phone. It took a little while, but Jennifer Pauly, Assistant Director of Community Affairs, finally tracked her down at the Sun Valley Branch where Lupe had been transferred. (She’s currently branch manager there).

"I was nominated by three people—a co-worker (an employee of hers), a 91-year-old retired teacher, and a middle school science student," explained Lupe. They were all very pleased that she won the award, but none more pleased than her plumber. "I just signed the check over to him," she laughed.

The Los Angeles Library was very supportive of her win. The Library Foundation paid for her airfare and hotel. It was her first trip east of Texas, and she made sure she took in the sights. "I even took a Gray Line bus tour," said Lupe, unabashed by her tourist status.

Even though it’s been three years, the honor hasn’t faded. Her director had the ad proclaiming Lupe’s win framed and matted for her, and there’s a plaque in her office that will stay at the library even after she’s gone. A year after her win, a local councilperson had her named "Woman of the Year" for her council district. "That year, the President of Cal-State/Northridge and the First Lady of the State of California (then-Governor Gray Davis’ wife, Sharon) were chosen from their own districts and I got to sit next to Mrs. Davis," said Lupe. "I’m lucky—our whole system is lucky—that our City Council has such a positive attitude about libraries."

For Lupe, the best thing about winning the award was the affect it had on her goddaughter. When she graduated college, she presented Lupe with a UCLA mug to let her know that she had been accepted at the library school. "She got a scholarship, and in her application she mentioned me as her inspiration."

When he won in 2004, Greg Sauve, a reference librarian at the Rochester Public Library in Minnesota, was visibly absent from the awards ceremony, but for a good reason.

"I was nominated by one of my patrons, Mohamed Abdi, a young immigrant who was in college, and he needed my help to finish his semester," said Greg. "It was only fair that I stayed to help him."

Everyone at his library was thrilled with Greg’s win. They threw a party for him at the library, and the plaque that was part of the prize hangs visibly in the reference area. A local paper carried an article about his work as well. "You never feel you’re doing anything extraordinary, but it’s great to be recognized. I work with a lot of immigrants in the community, so it was particularly nice to be nominated by an immigrant," he said. The award also added to Greg’s prestige in the community. "When I go to speak to other groups, it adds respect."

But while he didn’t take the trip to New York, he did use part of his winnings to take a much deserved trip to Mexico.

They may work in different parts of the country and in a variety of settings, but it would appear that all the winners have quite a bit in common, particularly their sense of altruism, willingness to serve their communities, and a love for what they do. They also feel that librarians do not receive enough recognition for their work in general, which may be a leading cause of less-than-adequate salaries.

"We think that everyone knows what we do," said Greg, "but most people in the community don’t know what we have and what we offer. It’s always good to remind them."

Lupe agrees, but added that while getting awards like the Times Award can have a positive impact, librarians need to take more responsibility for how they’re viewed. "We’re the ones who need to set the standard. Do we help or just sit behind the desk, reading a magazine? Good service certainly helps with bargaining units."

Anita worries that the low salaries discourages young people from considering the profession. "It’s so costly to live here on Long Island, and it seemed so inequitable that many public (children’s) librarians also have teaching degrees and they get paid at least $10,000 a year less than school librarians."

Jeanne has her own take on the situation, saying that librarians must make it a point to continually be out there teaching the community, and especially the politicians, about what they do. "You can never relax and say, 'Well, that’s done.’ You need to always educate a new administration to your value, and secure a place at the table when discussions come up about what we need. We have to be there and stay visible."

All agree that the New York Times Librarian Award is a step in the right direction.

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