TLA awards were presented at General Sessions and at the LiFTA Opening Luncheon on the first day of the 2008 TLA Annual Conference. A list of unit awards, grants, and stipends announced at conference will be in the next issue of TLACast and also in the summer issue of the Texas Library Journal.

Distinguished Service Award
Tish Mulkey is shown wearing her award medallion during a visit to the exhibit hall.
This year's Distinguished Service Award was presented to Tish Mulkey at General Session I in Dallas on April 16. The award is given to honor a librarian who demonstrates substantial leadership to the profession and provides outstanding and continuing service in one or more areas of the library and information science.

Mulkey is a library consultant now and is retired from many years of service to Plano ISD. Characterized as "a driving force for libraries for over 30 years," Tish Mulkey has made many contributions to both the library profession and TLA, generously sharing her expertise and wisdom. In so doing, she has shaped the careers of many librarians, teachers, and students.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Jo Venetis presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Robinson
The TLA 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award has been presented to Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr., president/CEO of the African American Museum (Dallas). The award recognizes an exemplary career in librarianship.

While having excelled in many areas, Dr. Robinson is especially recognized for his unmatched abilities in three areas: recruiting and mentoring young professionals; forging collaborative literature, literacy, and museum partnerships; and establishing the African American Museum. He was twice appointed by the President of the United States to the Board of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Robinson received a plaque and medal of honor during General Session on April 16.

Wayne Williams Library Project of the Year
Belinda Jacks (far right) led the drive to Read Across the Prairie.
The Wayne Williams Library Project of the Year recognizes a project that exemplifies the highest level of achievement, professional standards, and inspiration to other libraries. Under the leadership of Director of Library Services Belinda Jacks, Grand Prairie ISD Libraries introduced their community to "Read Across the Prairie," an extensive district-wide reading initiative now is its third year.

The program encourages students, faculty, parents, and other citizens in Grand Prairie to become a true community of readers and promotes reading "just for the fun of it." The presentation of a plaque and cash award was made during General Session I on April 16.

Outstanding Services to Libraries Award
Jane Rector – "Mrs. R" – is building a new library for Azle.
Jane F. (Janie) Rector has received the 2008 Outstanding Services to Libraries Award, which is given to an individual or organization to recognize outstanding lay advocates of libraries. Rector is a champion of the Azle Public Library & the City of Azle and received a plaque during the Opening LiFTA Luncheon on April 16.

Janie Rector donated approximately three acres of land and a 21,000 square foot state-of-the-art library with all furnishings, fixtures, artwork, and technology to the city of Azle. In planning the library, Rector visited many libraries, attended library conferences, included the library staff and community members in the development process, and even volunteered in the present library so she could get a feel for its operations. Her generosity and vision has rallied the community and resulted in annual fundraisers towards the purchase of new books and computers for the library.

Benefactor Award
Mrs. Sicard was present to accept a Benefactor Award for support of Pasadena Public Library.
TLA Benefactor Awards recognize substantial and signification donations to a library. This year's recipients are Lura and J. W. Sicard of Pasadena for their support of the Pasadena Public Library. They were recognized during the LiFTA Opening Luncheon and given a plaque.

Believing that in order to ask others to give you must lead the way, Lura and J. W. Sicard provided the first donation to the Pasadena Public Library's 2007 capital campaign. Mrs. Sicard is a 27-year member of the library advisory board; their gift will underwrite the construction and renovation of study rooms in the Pasadena Public Library central facility.

PR Branding Iron Awards

BEST of SHOW  & category winner for Speeches/Speakers Bureaus
Students Samip Sheth and Anna Gomez appeared before a House committee.
Librarian Susi Grissom, teacher Linda French, and students Anna Gomez and Samip Sheth of Travis Vanguard Academy of Dallas ISD have won in the Speeches/Speakers'Bureau category and have also won the 2008 Texas Libraries Public Relations Branding Iron Best of Show Award.

Together, they prepared a demo - “What happened on March 2, 1836?”- and testimony that they delivered before a packed crowd and the full House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance during a hearing on February 7, 2008.  The demo highlighted the use of the newly funded K-12 databases, and students Gomez and Sheth quite simply stole the hearing. Not only did they deliver expert testimony, they also provided knowledgeable and articulate answers to impromptu questions. Because of their efforts, committee members went on record staring their support for continuation of this important program. The Best of Show Award was announced at General Session II on Thursday, April 17.

Other Category Winners

• PR Campaign/PR Plan
  The Clear Creek Independent School District has been selected as the winner in the campaign/PR plan category for the “Let's Get Literate” campaign, a combination awareness campaign and fundraising effort.
• Guest Column/Editorial Page Coverage
  Kathy Nixie of the La Marque Public Library was named winner in the guest column/editorial page category for her tireless work writing weekly columns about her library for the local paper.
• Broadcast Coverage
  State of Tomorrow ^TM, the 13-part PBS series created by the University of Texas System and partner institutions and sponsors, aims at increasing enthusiasm for higher education and is now being distributed by school libraries. This series, which is also packaged with a curriculum guide, was named the winner in the broadcast media category.
• Brands and Logos
  The “Know How” brand and logo of Austin Community College took first honors in  the brands and logo category.
• Special Events
  “The Spirit of Place” Gala Fundraiser for the Wittliff Gallery (Alkek Library, Texas State University, San Marcos) has been selected as the winner in the special events category. “Teen Tech Week” at K. White Junior High (Mission CSID) received an honorable mention in this category.
• Non-Traditional Media
  Harris County Public Library was selected as the winner in the non-traditional media category. HCPL's work creating the iHCPL blog and all the promotional YouTube videos was outstanding! TSLAC's Library Resource Sharing Division has received an honorable mention in the non-traditional media category or its TexShare YouTube videos.
• Print Media
  Jill Stimson, Elizabeth Polk, and the librarians of Austin ISD were recognized for their work getting media coverage for the plight of school libraries. They are the winner in the print media category for the rousing front-page they helped bring to the the forefront of city news.
• Collateral Materials
  The Texas State Library and Archives Commission's set of promotional materials for the Jubilee Celebration of the Texas Reading Club won in the collateral materials category.