Awards Committee

Mission & Responsibilities

The Awards Committee is responsible for selecting the winners of the various continuing awards which the Association bestows, and for any special awards which the Association may provide. The President’s Award shall be the purview of the President, and the Committee may coordinate and publicize its presentation. It will also be the responsibility of the Committee to extend a courtesy meal ticket to the award winner and one guest.

Duties of the Committee

  1. Set deadlines for nominations for the awards and publicize availability of nomination forms.

  2. Solicit and evaluate nominations.

  3. Make the final selections.

  4. Publicize the recipients.

  5. Coordinate the presentation of the awards at the Annual Conference (in conjunction with the Conference Committee and the ArLA Executive Administrator) with the responsibility for:

  • Table seating arrangements 

  • Design and printing programs 

  • Coordinate with the ArLA office in ordering and delivering of the plaques 

  • Selection of awards presenters

Previous Awards Committee Chairs

  • 2025 - Crystal Gates
       

  • 2023 /2024 - Judy Calhoun

  • 2022 - Quanta Wyatt

  • 2021 - Allie Stevens

  • 2020 - Mindy Farley

  • 2019 - Philip C. Shackelford

  • 2018 - Judy Calhoun

  • 2017 - Dwain Gordon

  • 2016 - Amber Gregory

  • 2015 - Sloan Powell
        

  • 2014 - Cathy Toney

  • 2013 - Cathy Toney

  • 2012 - Jamie Melson

  • 2011 - Jamie Melson

  • 2010 - Barbie James

  • 2009 - Barbie James

  • 2008 - Kaye Talley

  • 2007 - Kaye Talley

  • 2006 - Sandy Olson
         

  • 2005 - Sandy Olson

  • 2004 - Jamie Melson

  • 2003 - Frances Hager

  • 2002 - Bob Yehl

  • 2001 - Bob Yehl

  • 2000 - Barbie James

  • 1999 - Alice Coleman

Current & Past Award Winners

Arkansas Intellectual Freedom Award

  • 2025 - Rebecka Virden
                   

  • 2024 - Patty Hector

  • 2023 - Adam Webb

  • 2021 - Mary Spears Polk, John McGraw, and the Faulkner County Library Staff

  • 2020 - Pridefest Committee from William F. Laman Public Library System in N. Little Rock, Arkansas:  Members of the committee Richard Theilig, Chris Thompson, Adam Branscum, Robin Campbell, Chance Griebel, Lena Hill, Lilith MacFarlin, Shelbie Reed, Michael Thornton, Dominic Watada and Jonathan Webb.

  • 2019 - Shenise L. McGhee

  • 2006 - Estella Mae Roberts

  • 1999 - Dr. Terry Fiddler

  • 1998 - Winston Simpson, Bryant School Board and Truett McCurry

  • 1996 - Linda Poindexter

Arkansiana Award

  • 2025 - Monica Potts for The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America (Adult Non-Fiction), Stephen Koch for From Almeda to Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song (Adult Non-Fiction)
         

  • 2024 - Don House & Sabine Schmidt for Remote Access: Small Public Libraries in Arkansas (Adult Non-Fiction), Eli Cranor for Ozark Dogs (Fiction), and Ayana Gray for Beasts of Prey (Juvenile Fiction)

  • 2021 - Marla Cantrell for Early Morning in the Land of Dreams (Adult Fiction), David Hill for The Vapors : A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs (Adult Non-Fiction), and Darcy Pattison and Eileen Hutcheson for A Little Bit of Dinosaur (Juvenile)

  • 2019 - Brooks Blevins

  • 2017 - Ali Welky for A Captive Audience: Voices of Japanese American Youth in World War II Arkansas (Juvenile), Sanderia Faye for Mourner’s Bench (Adult Fiction), and Rex Nelson for Southern Fried: Going Whole Hog in a State of Wonder (Adult Non-Fiction)

  • 2015 - Johnny Boggs for Poison Spring (Juvenile/YA) and Marvin Schwartz for We Wanna Boogie: The Rockabilly Roots of Sonny Burgess and the Pacers (Non-Fiction)

  • 2013 - Shelley Tougas for Little Rock Girl, 1957: How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration (Juvenile/YA); Vivienne Schiffer for Camp Nine (Fiction); Jeannie Whayne for Delta Empire: Lee Wilson and the Transformation of Agriculture in the New South (Non-Fiction)

  • 2011 - Brooks Blevins for Arkansas/Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies, and Good Ol’ Boys Defined a State (non-fiction), Nancy Dane for her Civil War in Arkansas Trilogy (fiction),  Paul Robert Walker for Remember Little Rock: The Time, The People, The Stories (juvenile)

  • 2009 - Elizabeth Jacoway for Turn Away Thy Son (nonfiction), Phil McMath for Lost Kingdoms (fiction), and Sharon Draper for Fire From the Rock (juvenile)

  • 2007 - Grif Stockley (Adult Non-Fiction) and Diane Everman (Juvenile)

  • 2005 - Dr. Ken Barnes (Adult Non-Fiction) and Charles Sandage (Juvenile Fiction)

  • 2003 - Robert Somerlott, Jeannie Whayne, Tom DeBlack, Morris S. “Buzz” Arnold, and George Sabo III

  • 2001 - William Cobb, John Grisham, and Jonathon Thorndike

  • 1999 - Sara Alderman Murphy, Don Harington, and Eileen Lucas

  • 1997 - Jeannie M. Whayne

  • 1995 - Carolyn G. LeMaster

  • 1993 - Neil Compton

  • 1991 - John Graves

  • 1989 - Carl Moneyhon and Bobby Roberts

  • 1987 - Stephen A. Smith

  • 1985 - Shirley Abbot

  • 1983 - Timothy P. Donovan and Willard B. Gatewood

  • 1981 - Elizabeth Huckaby

  • 1979 - Harry S. Ashmore

Baker & Taylor Grass Roots Grant

  • 1994 - Petra Pershall

LaNell Compton Award (for best article in Arkansas Libraries)

  • 2023 - Dr. Kay Walter & Elizabeth Parish

  • 2020 - A. Blake Denton

  • 2018 - Cynthia J. Arnold, Jennifer O. Baine, Mindy F. Farley, Philip C. Shackelford, and Lauri T. Wilson

  • 2016 - Sue Ann Pekel

  • 2014 - Hadi Dudley

  • 2012 - Dr. Jud H. Copeland

  • 2010 - Judy Robinson

  • 2008 - Tracy Farmer

  • 2006 - Karen Russ

  • 2004 - Bob Razer

  • 2002 - Sarah Bryan

  • 2000 - Kay Bland and Peggy Morrison

  • 1998 - Art Lichtenstein

  • 1996 - Susan Cooper

  • 1994 - Bob Razer

  • 1992 - Mary Hawks and Jan Hart

  • 1990 - Margaret R. Beam

  • 1988 - Bob Razer

  • 1986 - Laura Gassaway

  • 1984 - Bob Razer

  • 1982 - Clifton O. Lawhorne

Lorrie Shuff Paraprofessional Award

  • 2025 - Ollie Carter
         

  • 2024 - Tina Bell

  • 2023 - Jasmine Jobe

  • 2022 - Amy DeVooght

  • 2021 - Katherine Blake

  • 2020 - Rebecca Fischer

  • 2019 - Simone Kirk

  • 2018 - Karen Pruneda

  • 2017 - Shawn Manis

  • 2016 - Lisa Holiman

  • 2015 - Erin Baber

  • 2014 - Wade Brightwell

  • 2013 - Melanie Allen

  • 2012 - Lynaire Hartsell

  • 2011 - Kim Hillison

  • 2010 - Kareen Turner
         

  • 2009 - Donna Rusher

  • 2008 - Trish Miller

  • 2007 - Brenda Van Dusen

  • 2006 - Loretta Edwards

  • 2005 - Donette Smith

  • 2004 - No award given

  • 2003 - Rita Mackintosh

  • 2002 - Sandra Hooper & Sandra Olson

  • 2001 - Jamie Melson

  • 2000 - Sherryl Robinson

  • 1999 - Lorraine “Lorrie” Shuff

  • 1998 - Dusty Schmid

  • 1997 - Charlie Stayton

  • 1996 - Donna Washko

Ann Lightsey Award

  • 2025 - Mary Spears Polk
        

  • 2024 - Brook Fischer

  • 2023 - Wendy Christy

  • 2022 - Katie Allen

  • 2021 - Kirsten Blake

  • 2020 - Brittany Chavez

  • 2018 - Marilyn Willis

  • 2017 - Brittany Tavernaro

  • 2016 - Lisa Donovan

  • 2015 - Simone Kirk

  • 2014 - Deborah Edmonds

  • 2013 - Sharon Christian

  • 2012 - Sue Ann Pekel

  • 2011 - Cathy Howser

  • 2010 - Lolly Greenwood

  • 2009 - Kay Taylor

  • 2008 - Tiffany Hough

  • 2007 - Bettye Kerns

  • 2006 - Mary Furlough

Retta Patrick Award

  • 2025 - Amy Wallace
        

  • 2024 - Katie Dolan

  • 2023 - Quanta Wyatt

  • 2022 - Ronda Hughes

  • 2021 - Sloan Powell

  • 2020 - Chelsey Turner

  • 2018 - Ashley J. Cooksey

  • 2017 - Stony Evans

  • 2015 - Cathy Toney

  • 2014 - Ashley J. Cooksey

  • 2013 - Shirley Fetherolf

  • 2012 - Dr. Stephanie Huffman

  • 2011 - Jana Dixon

  • 2010 - Annette Lemley

  • 2009 - Sue Ellen Bristow

  • 2008 - Ann Ayres
  • 2007 - Connie Zimmer
       

  • 2006 - Diane Hughes

  • 2004 - Brenda Wayne

  • 2003 - Karen Richardson

  • 2002 - Barbie James

  • 2001 - Sylvia Chudy

  • 2000 - Cassandra Barnett, Wanda Jones, Barbara McKinney

  • 1999 - Kay Bland, Margaret Crank

  • 1998 - Jody B. Charter

  • 1997 - Rachel Shankles

  • 1996 - Selvin Royal

  • 1993 - Frances Kuykendall

  • 1992 - Don DeWeese

  • 1989 - Judy Pitts, Barbara Striplin

President’s Award (this is only chosen and given by the ArLA President)

  • 2025 - Oliver Jennings
        

  • 2024 - Kacy Earnest Spears

  • 2023 - Amber Wilson

  • 2021 - Janice Weddle

  • 2020 - Ron Russ

  • 2019 - Lynn A.Valetutti

  • 2016 - Ron Russ

  • 2011 - Bill and Elizabeth Sanders

  • 2011 - Barbara Martin (posthumously)

  • 2007 - Governor Mike Beebe

  • 2002 - Karen Russ

  • 2000 - Dwain Gordon

  • 1999 - Dusty Schmid

  • 1997 - Michael Dougan, Tom Dillard, and Tim Nutt

  • 1993 - Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth Thomason

Distinguished Service Award

  • 2025 - Carol Coffey
       

  • 2024 - Clare Graham

  • 2023 - Adam Webb

  • 2022 - Debbie Hall

  • 2021 - Ruth Hyatt

  • 2020 - Edward Fontenette

  • 2019 - Gwen Dobbs

  • 2018 - Britt Anne Murphy

  • 2017 - Eva White

  • 2016 - Donna McDonald

  • 2015 - Judy Calhoun

  • 2014 - Carolyn Ashcraft

  • 2013 - Frances Hager

  • 2012 - Helen Giessen Guenter

  • 2011 - John Wells

  • 2010 - Kathie Buckman

  • 2009 - Kaye Talley

  • 2008 - Kim Patterson

  • 2007 - Sarah Ziegenbein

  • 2006 - Bill Traylor

  • 2004 - Louise Turner

  • 2003 - Phyllis Burkett
       

  • 2002 - Lolly Shaver

  • 2001 - Arthur Berman

  • 2000 - Dave Burdick

  • 1999 - Patricia Zabel

  • 1998 - Jenny Petty

  • 1997 - John “Pat” Murphey, Jr.

  • 1996 - Florence Jordan Bradley

  • 1995 - Mary Cheatham

  • 1994 - Grace Donoho

  • 1993 - Bobby Roberts

  • 1992 - Terry Sypoll

  • 1991 - Gay Moore

  • 1990 - Cassie Brothers

  • 1988 - Rose Hogan

  • 1987 - Winnie Bell

  • 1986 - Lillian Randleman

  • 1985 - Larry Larson

  • 1984 - Don B. DeWeese

  • 1983 - Marcella Grider

  • 1982 - Retta Patrick

Bessie Moore Trustee Award

  • 2025 - Jean Ann Bell
          

  • 2024 - Lorri Helberg

  • 2023 - Karen Harbut

  • 2022 - Bill Walmsley

  • 2021 - Dr. Jeff Whittingham

  • 2020 - William C. Horrell

  • 2019 - Fayetteville Public Library Board of Trustees

  • 2018 - Jami Anne Balkman

  • 2014 - Van Buren County Library

  • 2013 - Ash Flat Library Board

  • 2011 - Crawford County Library Boards

  • 2010 - Michael Burris

  • 2009 - Donna McDonald

  • 2008 - Donna Parker

  • 2007 - Dr. Phillip D. Nix

  • 2003 - Glenanna O’ Mara

  • 2002 - Donna Casparian

  • 2001 - Mary I. Wold

  • 2000 - Violet Isaacks

  • 1999 - Stanley R. Langley

  • 1998 - Joyce Boswell

  • 1997 - Anne Weber

  • 1996 - Janet Kielsmeier

  • 1995 - Tom Dillard

  • 1994 - Neil M. Henry

  • 1993 - Kersh Hall

  • 1992 - M. Elizabeth Kimzy

  • 1990 - Harold Ohlendorf

  • 1989 - Julia Gardner

  • 1988 - Lee Gordon

  • 1985 - Glenna Garner

  • 1984 - Donald Roeder

  • 1983 - Nell Henry

  • 1982 - Winnie Mercer Lowe, Joannn Newell, and Fred Darragh

  • 1981 - Ruth Fowler

  • 1980 - Mrs. W.B. Burkett

  • 1979 - J.D. Lybrand

Suzanne Spurrier Academic Librarian Award

  • 2025 - Jessica Riedmueller
       

  • 2024 - Shenise McGhee

  • 2023 - Amy McGohan

  • 2022 - Janice Weddle

  • 2021 - Lacy Wolfe

  • 2020 - Lauri Wilson

  • 2019 - Jean Waldrop

  • 2018 - David Sesser

  • 2017 - Jerrie Jones Townsend

  • 2016 - Rebecka Virden

  • 2015 - Karen Russ

  • 2014 - Bill Parton

  • 2013 - Ann Dixon
         

  • 2012 - Britt Anne Murphy

  • 2011 - No award given

  • 2010 - No award given

  • 2009 - Necia Parker-Gibson

  • 2008 - Kathie Buckman

  • 2007 - Ron Russ

  • 2006 - Art Lichtenstein

  • 2004 - Henry Terrill

  • 2003 - Peggy Morrison

  • 2002 - Rene LeBeau Ford

  • 2001 - Amanda Moore

Frances P. Neal Award

  • 2025 - Debbie Hall

  • 2024 - Lavoris Martin

  • 2023 - Tina Murdoch

  • 2022 - Dean Covington

  • 2021 - Rachel Shankles

  • 2020 - Carolyn Ashcraft

  • 2019 - Elizabeth Chadburn Mckee

  • 2018 - Dwain Gordon

  • 2017 - Gwen Khayat

  • 2016 - Dr. Bobby Roberts

  • 2015 - Jay Ziolko

  • 2013 - Phyllis Burkett

  • 2012 - Bettye Fowler Kerns

  • 2011 - Henry Terrill

  • 2010 - Sarah Ziegenbein

  • 2009 - Peggy Walters

  • 2008 - Susie Boyett

  • 2007 - Ellen Johnson

  • 2006 - Lolly Ledbetter Shaver

  • 2005 - Larry Larson

  • 2003 - Kinne Colpitts

  • 2002 - John “Pat” Murphey, Jr.

  • 2001 - Edwina Walls Mann

  • 2000 - Jackie Wright

  • 1999 - Don B. DeWeese

  • 1998 - Martha Florine Overton

  • 1997 - Shelly T. Wold

  • 1996 - Gladys Sachse

  • 1995 - Shannon Henderson

  • 1994 - Jean Raybon

  • 1991 - Evelyn McCoy

  • 1989 - Bessie Smith Lockard

  • 1988 - Lucille Murphy

  • 1986 - Ruth Brunson

  • 1985 - Juanita Carter

  • 1984 - Freddy Schader

Rising Star Award

  • 2025 - Amy Barlow
         

  • 2024 - Julia Watkins

  • 2023 - Kelsey Gocio

  • 2022 - Jim Curry

  • 2021 - Amanda "Mandy" Bashaw

  • 2020 - Adam Branscum

  • 2019 - Sarah Beth Lesko

  • 2018 - Ronda Hughes

  • 2017 - Sandy Doss