Distinguished Service: James Stewart

James Stewart, director of the Victoria Public Library, received the 2005 Distinguished Service Award on April 6 in Austin at the first general session of the Texas Library Association (TLA) Annual Conference. The award, first presented in 1960, honors a librarian who, as a TLA member, has distinguished him- or herself in service to libraries and the library profession in Texas.

Stewart began his career in library work in 1973, serving as a librarian in Austin and Corpus Christi before accepting the position he holds today. In addition, he has been active in TLA's legislative efforts and was a founding member of the Texas Library Political Action Committee - TL-PAC.

While serving as president of TLA in 1992-93, Stewart provided the inspiration and impetus for the TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute. In 1992 he also received a gubernatorial appointment to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. For many years, Stewart has chaired the J. Frank Dobie Library Trust Awards committee, which annually awards grants to small libraries in Texas.

The award citation noted that James Stewart "has served TLA with distinction as an individual who takes the work and mission of libraries seriously, without ever forgetting that it is important to have fun along the way."

Librarian of the Year: Jack Strawn

The 2005 Texas Librarian of the Year Award was presented on April 6 to Jack Strawn, librarian at Sandra Day O'Connor High School in the Northside Independent School District (San Antonio). This annual award is given to a Texas Library Association (TLA) member to recognize distinguished achievement by sustained or singular activity, to mark outstanding service in one or more areas of the library profession, and to identify contributions to the profession and to the improvement of library services.

One colleague credited him with re-igniting her passion for working with young adults through his enthusiasm for their literature. Strawn's knowledge of books, genres, authors, and publishers is legendary; and his expertise and guidance have helped shape TLA's Tayshas Reading List for high school students. In addition to his high school duties, Strawn teaches library school students at Our Lady of the Lake University.

Strawn has chaired or served on numerous committees both within TLA and in other state and national library associations. Strawn's award citation noted that he has "exemplified a spirit of determination, commitment, enthusiasm, integrity, and humility as he has spread the word about books, library services, and the work of TLA."

Outstanding Services to Libraries: Adelene James

Adelene James was honored for Outstanding Services to Libraries. The award is given to an outstanding lay advocate of libraries considering such activities as the advancement of library services, the promotion and development of sound library practices, the successful interpretation of the library to the community, and demonstration of wisdom and judgment in a position of civic responsibility.

With a Master’s in Library Science from the Columbia University Library School, Mrs. James was a school librarian for Fort Worth ISD from 1946–1986 and worked summers for the Fort Worth Public Library. The TLA award, however, recognizes her work as an outstanding advocate for Texas libraries, including her service from 1975–1978 on the Fort Worth Public Library Advisory Board, her 25 year tenure with the Fort Worth Public Library Friends of the Library, and her creation of the Institute for Art and Music Summer Camp that in 2005 will be part of the Forth Worth Public Library Summer Reading Program.

In addition, she assisted in the development of the regional library concept for the Southwest Regional Library and was active with the East Fort Worth Community organization, which supported and fostered the construction of the East Regional Library.
 

Project of the Year:

Alpine PL & Friends of the Alpine PL

The Alpine Public Library and the Friends of the Alpine Public Library earned the Project of the Year Award with a creative recycling effort. A need for revenue resulted in an idea that involved soliciting book and AV donations from community members and either using them to enhance the public library’s collection or re-selling them in a used-book and audiovisual materials outlet with proceeds to benefit the library.

The outlet store itself, called the Re-Reads Bookstore, was designed by a local architect and was built largely through volunteer labor, using materials common to ranch buildings of West Texas. The store is staffed primarily by volunteer members of the local Friends group and has become a great place for social interaction. The community has rallied around the project by increased donations and volunteerism, and the project has raised the library’s profile in the Far West Texas Big Bend area.