Awards and Grants

Susan Heinis, Awards Chairperson
West Essex Senior High School
65 West Greenbrook Road
North Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-228-0296 ext.252
973-228-2369 (Fax)
sheinis@westex.org

This prestigious award is presented to someone who has honored and advanced the profession of school library media specialist.

The NJASL/Follett Outstanding Media Specialist Award honors a school library media specialist who, through individual and sustained effort, has made outstanding contributions to the operation of effective school library/media services and to advancing the role of the school library/media center in the total educational program.

In every aspect of librarianship, Shayne Russell has demonstrated
outstanding leadership in her school, collaboration with staff,
public librarians, and the community. Through the introduction of flexible
scheduling,understanding and integration of the Core Curriculum Standards into
the curriculum, her excellent management of the library media center, and her
intense desire to continue her professional growth and share her knowledge and
programs with others in the library community, Shayne demonstrates excellence.
Shayne's grant from the National Geographic Education Fund allowed her to
participate in the Earthwatch Institute's Teach Live Program and bring the
global world into the daily lives of her students and staff.

The Award will be presented at the Annual NJASL Fall Conference. Application must be received no later than June 1st.

Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award

This is a citation annually awarded by NJASL to an administrator of a school or group of schools who has developed an exemplary school library media program and who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution toward advancing the role of the school library media center as an agency for the improvement of education. Application must be received no later than June1st.

Sandra Paul has been the Technology Director of the Sayreville Public Schools for
three years. During that time, she has “elevated the standard of technology use
within the district, actively mentored and championed the librarians, and
enhanced the resources of the media centers/labs. She truly believes that the
library is the heart of the school, nurturing the development of teachers,
students, and families together. She is working diligently to transform the
Sayreville school library media centers into such focal points, accessible from
home and community as well as internally throughout the district.” She has
instituted monthly media meetings for discussion, problem solving, and to more
fully understand the needs and role of the media specialist in each school.
Sandi has a clear vision of what an outstanding media center should provide for
each child.

The Jean E. Harris Progressive School Library Media Program Award is based on the innovative ideas presented by a library media specialist to enhance the life-long learning skills of students. Sponsored by Green Valley Book Company, the $500 cash award is to be used to purchase materials that will improve students' access to information. Recognition of the recipient will be made at the NJASL/NJLA Fall Conference. Application must be received no later than June 1st.

Ann Hill is the media specialist for 3000 high school students. Information
literacy instruction is integrated into the curriculum at all grade levels and
in all subject areas. There is a formal four-year program in the English and
Social Studies curriculum. The use of technology is infused at each grade level
from the internet, online databases, multimedia authoring and video editing
programs providing students with a wide range of experiences. All aspects of
information literacy are covered throughout this four year curriculum which
guarantees that all the students have the 21st century skills needed to compete
in a global world.

Memberships:
Treasurer of South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative
CCNJASL
NJASL
AASL
ALA

This award is based on the contributions and time devoted to a school library media center or public library and their patrons. Award criteria include time donated per week, responsibilities, examples of how the volunteer contributes to the efficient and effective running of the library media center, and evidence that the volunteer enthusiastically promotes the library media center program. The award is presented at the NJASL Annual Conference. Application must be received by June 1st.

Mary Delatore has been a volunteer at the Atlantic Highlands Elementary
School for the past ten years. The past two years she has been a volunteer
in the media center. She has taken on a variety of tasks during this time,
including organizing other parent volunteers, assisting students and teachers
when the media specialist is not available, the cataloging of materials,
creating tutorials for the other volunteers, running the circulation desk,
processing the overdues, making reminders for classes and making copies for
teachers as well as keeping the media center clean and organized. Mary has
given her all to the children of the school despite the personal tragedy of
her young daughter’s death in 1998. She guided a book campaign for the media
center in memory of her daughter. She is truly the Volunteer of the Year.

Anne E. Voss Conference Grant

The New Jersey Association of School Librarians announces the naming of the annual grant, which is awarded to a conferee to attend a national conference, to reflect the gratitude that NJASL feels toward Anne E. Voss for her many years of dedicated work on behalf of school libraries in New Jersey. Even though Anne retired from the State Library fourteen years ago, she has maintained a close relationship with NJASL. Application must be received no later than May 1st.

“ ‘Anne Voss is one of the few giants in school librarianship,’ to quote Al Saley’s
remarks at the NJASL Banquet at the Fall Conference (in 1987). She worked closely with Mary Gaver and Frances Henne in the late 50s and 60s to establish school libraries and to met the shortage of school librarians. Under her leadership at the State Library, library media centers developed and flourished in elementary and secondary schools all across New Jersey. Over the years, she has provided leadership which has had a lasting impact on school library media services. We particularly recall her work with Title II, The School Library Statistics, The School Library Media Specialist Directory, The Title II School Libraries Demonstration Project, The New Jersey Blueprint, and The Implementation of the National Standards, to name some of the programs she directed. She has been an intelligent and gracious spokesper-son for school library media specialists, highly regarded and respected among educators.” (Kuhlthau, Carol, Signal Tab, January 1988)

The Al Saley Memorial Scholarships, sponsored by NJASL, are awarded to individuals who are going to college for graduate study in the field of educational media. Individuals currently employed in a school library media center, teachers interested in becoming educational media specialists, or recent college graduates interested in entering the field may apply for one of the three $750 scholarships. The applicant must provide educational background, a transcript of previous educational course work, details on any volunteer experiences in educational media, a brief statement of achievements and/or goals in the field, and plans for a future position in educational media. Recommendations from two professional educators must accompany the application. Applications are due by May 1st.

Jane Brown is currently enrolled in the Educational Media Specialist Program,
Masters of Education at Kean University in Union, NJ. She will complete her
Master’s in the Spring, 2008. She has been at the Sampson G. Smith School
since 2005. Prior to this position, she has been a substitute teacher, a
library assistant at Somerset County Library, and an associate editor for
Avon Books and Bantam Books in New York.

These awards are given to an outstanding student who is presently enrolled in a library media program in a New Jersey College. The person is chosen by the head of the department of the college. Each college that offers such a program is contacted in the spring to choose the student that is deserving of the award. Award winners are announced at the NJASL Annual Fall Conference. Application

This award is given annually to recognize the contribution of an individual or group who has actively promoted intellectual freedom in New Jersey. This award is donated by the Social Issues Resources Series, Inc., to a recipient selected by the NJASL Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Scholarships and Awards Committee, and consists of $500 to the award winner(s) and $500 for materials to the library of the recipient's choice. All applications are due by June 1st.

Villy Gandhi Leadership Training Scholarship

This scholarship gives a certified library media specialist, who is a member of NJASL, an opportunity to attend the Summer Leadership Institute of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). After this experience, the winner must agree to serve on the NJASL Board of Trustees for one year and implement at least one idea obtained at the institute. Applications are due by March 15 . Application

Attach supporting evidence and appropriate statement regarding qualifications for

All the Unsung Heroes in Education
Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Custodial/Maintenance Staff,
Library Media Specialists, Boards of Education, Volunteers
Who Daily Work Toward a Better Informed and
Literate Lifelong Learner

Lists of current and past Garden State Book Award winners for children and teens , along with ballots for voting, are posted on the New Jersey Library Association 's website.

This award was established in 1994 by the New Jersey Reading Association (NJRA) to honor Dr. M. Jerry Weiss, distinguished service professor at New Jersey City University, and nationally known advocate for children's literature. Books are nominated by school committees, then screened by a state committee. Final voting is done by students. The award will be presented in alternate years to an author and illustrator in the K-3 category, an author and illustrator in the 4- 6 category, and an author in the 7-12 category. Voting guidelines and ballot .

Miss Rumphius Award 2008
This year’s Miss Rumphius Award will honor librarians and school media specialists who are stellar in spreading ideas and literacy, perpetuating the idea of excellence in our profession. Nomination Deadline: September 1,2008

Susan Heinis, Awards Chairperson
West Essex Senior High School
65 West Greenbrook Road
North Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-228-0296 ext.252
973-228-2369 (Fax)
sheinis@westex.org