Rainbow Round Table seeks nominations for 2020 awards recognizing outstanding service to the LGBTQIA+ community

CHICAGO – Every year, the Rainbow Round Table (RRT) of the American Library Association seeks to honor librarians, library related organizations (including libraries, library staff, library boards, library friends), and other individuals or groups (public or private) that have demonstrated excellence in the area of responding to the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, pansexual, genderqueer, queer, intersex, agender, asexual, and ally (LGBTQIA+) community.

The Rainbow Round Table seeks to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of its peers. Members are an integral part of a successful awards program. RRT urges members to nominate colleagues whose work has influenced their thinking and growth, and whose contributions merit recognition by the profession. Member nominations will ensure that the pool of candidates for each award remains both competitive and distinguished. Nominations and supporting materials for these awards must be submitted by December 30, 2019.

The Rainbow Round Table Award for Political Activism Award honors librarians, library related organizations (including libraries, library staff, library boards, library friends), and other individuals or groups (public or private) that have demonstrated excellence in the area of LGBTQIA+ activism. The award is designed for someone who is involved in efforts to promote LGBTQIA+ issues, impedes the progress of anti-LGBTQIA+ efforts, or raises awareness of LGBTQIA+ matters locally, statewide, nationally or internationally. The award recognizes the work of taking a clear stance on an issue, voicing an opinion and working to ensure that positive change happens for the LGBTQIA+ community. The award may be given for a specific action, repeated actions (like a campaign), or a lifetime of work. Submit a nomination.

The Larry Romans Mentorship Award, administered jointly by Rainbow Round Table and the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), recognizes librarians who, through their sustained mentoring efforts, have made a difference in our profession. Each year, the award will honor a librarian who has demonstrated excellence in the area of mentoring, who has successfully encouraged others to serve as mentors, and who has impacted the lives and careers of others through tirelessly devoting time, energy, and talent toward helping others succeed in our profession. Submit a nomination.

The Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence in Serving the GLBT Community honors a librarian, library staff member, library, library board, and/or library friends group who have designed programs and/or initiatives responsive to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. By honoring programs and/or initiatives with demonstrated impact on the LGBTQIA+ community that have been sustained over a period of time, this award seeks to 1) increase the number of services to or for the LGBTQIA+ community in libraries, and 2) enhance the quality and sustainability of such services. Submit a nomination.

One of each award will be given annually to an eligible candidate. These awards consist of a citation and $1,000. If a suitable candidate is not found, the award will not be presented in a given year.

Submissions must be made online, using the respective nomination form. A letter of nomination is required along with supporting documentation, including at least 5, but no more than ten, letters of support, statements of outstanding contributions, and other evidence. Only the materials submitted as part of the nomination package will be considered.

The Rainbow Round Table (RRT) of the American Library Association is the oldest professional association for LGBTQIA+ people in the United States. It is committed to serving the information needs of the LGBTQIA+ professional library community and information and access needs of individuals at large. It is home to GLBT Book Month ™, a nationwide celebration every June and the Stonewall Book Award, the first award honoring LGBTQIA+ books. The Rainbow Round Table is committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the American Library Association and democratic institutions.