VSLA Awards 2024

VSLA Awards 2023

Outstanding School Librarian

Heidi Huestis (Charlotte School)

Heidi has done so much work for the VSLA Board in the past, including with the standards and job description updates, and now Heidi is working in school with over 300 students and no support staff. She does EVERYTHING for those Charlotte students despite the fact that her administration won't do anything for her. As a district colleague, we've advocated continuously for better working conditions to no avail. Heidi shows up with grace and compassion through it all. (Peter Langella)

Heidi is working at a school that is out of compliance with EQS because she has no support staff and her school and our district refuse to return her help. Heidi is phenomenal despite this, and she deserves this recognition.

Service Award

Donna Sullivan-McDonald (for her tireless work in organizing the VSLA/VLA conference)

The Vermont Library Conference was an enormous success! Donna took the lead for school libraries, and her work is so very much appreciated!    (Peter Langella)

Donna worked tirelessly to create a brand new conference, in partnership with the Vermont Library Association.  She stepped up when she didn’t have to and in absence of having a VSLA conference chair to take the lead.

This defines Donna to a tee - the act of stepping up without being asked.  Donna embodies what it means to be a school librarian “in service to”.  In service to her students.  In service to her learning community.  And in service to all of us.  

Thank you for creating a phenomenal conference!

School  Library Advocate Award

Jory Hearst (co-founder of Teen Lit Mob)

Jory was a longtime member of the Green Mountain Book Award Committee, and Jory is one of the founders and organizers of Teen Lit Mob. After Grace Greene retired as the youth services consultant at VTLIB, there were a couple of incredibly tumultuous years at VTLIB.  It is rumored that GMBA would not still exist if not for Jory's leadership and energy and ability to bring people together. This energy has carried over into Teen Lit Mob. Jory is a tireless advocate for books and libraries and Vermont teens.  

VSLA Awards 2022

VSLA Awards 2021

VSLA Awards 2020

* VSLA SERVICE AWARD is given to a school librarian who has made outstanding contributions to school libraries and the library community in Vermont. The 2020 recipient is 

* VSLA SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVOCATE AWARD for someone who has been supportive of school libraries. This award recognizes an administrator or public figure who has demonstrated belief in and has been supportive of school libraries. The 2020 recipient is 

* VSLA OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AWARD for someone who is doing outstanding work in their school or district. The award is given to recognize library program excellence. The 2020 recipients are

Based upon the nominations received, the VSLA Award Committee may present any or all of these honors at the annual Dynamic Landscapes Conference.

VSLA Awards 2018

* VSLA SERVICE AWARD is given to a school librarian who has made outstanding contributions to school libraries and the library community in Vermont.

The 2018 recipient is Angelica Harris!

* VSLA SCHOOL LIBRARY ADVOCATE AWARD for someone who has been supportive of school libraries. This award recognizes an administrator or public figure who has demonstrated belief in and has been supportive of school libraries.

The 2018 recipient is Peter Drescher!

* VSLA OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AWARD for someone who is doing outstanding work in their school or district. The award is given to recognize library program excellence.

The 2018 recipient is Beth Redford!

Based upon the nominations received, the VSLA Award Committee may present any or all of these honors at the annual Dynamic Landscapes Conference.

Use this form to submit a nomination for any of this year's VSLA Awards.

Past VSLA Award recipients:

Prior to 2018, there was one VSLA Award, the purpose of which was to recognize an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to school libraries and the library community in Vermont. At the 2017 annual meeting, the membership voted to expand the VSLA Award from one honor to three, to better recognize different types of contributions to the school library community of Vermont.

Previous winners include:

 

       

• 2017: Sharon Hayes
• 2016: Denise Wentz
  
• 2015: Donna Sullivan MacDonald
• 2014: Marty Reid
• 2013:  Judith Kaplan (pictured)
• 2012:  Sharon Hayes (pictured)
• 2011:  Cheryl Kissel (pictured)
• 2010: Karen Hennig (pictured)
• 2009: Grace Greene
• Marsha Middleton
• Trina Magi
• Scott Campitelli
• Daniel Greene
• Linda Brew
  
• Sybil McShane