ACRL Awards Coordinating Committee

Charge

The Awards Coordinating Committee provides leadership and oversight for the ACRL Awards program.

The committee was approved by the ACRL Board at its Virtual Meeting I on January 26, 2024. The committee began its work in July 2024.

Special Tasks

1. Review the ACRL Awards program on a regular basis (5 years), including the awards and grants given, financial support, and division policies that address or impact awards and grants, and make recommendations for needed changes to the ACRL Board of Directors.
2. Establish a process for reviewing awards and grants, including their purpose, description, and selection criteria, and recommending changes as needed.
3. Provide annual training and resources on awards-related equity practices for members of awards committees.
4. Work with ACRL staff to provide a standardized submission platform for nominations.
5. Assist award and grant committees in identifying potential nominees and soliciting nominations.
6. Establish and oversee a process to ensure that an individual or group does not receive more than a single award for the same publication or program.
7. Collect and share data on award nominees and winners.
8. Work with ACRL staff to hold an annual, division-wide ceremony for award and grant recipients.
9. Develop and maintain a calendar of the committee's work.
10. File an annual report on the committee's activities with the ACRL Board.

Composition

• 1 Chair
• 1 Vice-Chair, who serves a one-year term as Vice-Chair followed by a one-year term a Chair
• 1 Board liaison
• 1 staff liaison
• 4-6 additional members, with appointments staggered to provide continuity.
• Additional appointments at the discretion of the ACRL Vice-President/President-Elect and Appointments Committee.
• Members should have previous experience serving on an ACRL award or grant committee and should be drawn from a diversity of ACRL Sections. In addition the membership should represent a diversity of institution types (community colleges, baccalaureate-granting colleges, master's granting institutions, doctoral-granting universities, and independent research libraries).
• Since it is important that the vice-chair/chair be knowledgeable about the responsibilities and concerns of the committee, it is suggested the committee vice-chair/chair be selected from the existing committee membership.

Roster

The current committee roster is available on the ACRL website: Awards Coordinating Committee. 

Current Work (2024-2025)

The Awards Coordinating Committee was first appointed in July 2024. Its initial work for 2024-2025 is focused on three of its special tasks:

• Establish a process for reviewing awards and grants, including their purpose, description, and selection criteria, and recommending changes as needed.
• Provide annual training and resources on awards-related equity practices for members of awards committees.
• Collect and share data on award nominees and winners.

Planned Work (2025-2026)

Spring/Summer 2025

• Work with ACRL staff to provide a standardized submission platform for nominations

Summer 2025

• Provide training to new Awards Committee members

Fall 2025

• Establish and oversee a process to ensure that an individual or group does not receive more than a single award for the same publication or program
• Establish a three-year review cycle for committees

Spring 2026

• Work with ACRL staff and awards committees to hold an annual, division-wide ceremony for award and grant recipients
• Provide annual training and resources on awards-related equity practices for members of awards committees
• Collect and share data on awards nominees and winners

Ongoing

• Assist award committees in identifying potential nominees and soliciting nominations

Follow the Committee's Work

You can follow the committee's work in ALA Connect:

• ACRL Awards Stakeholders (login required)