Deerfield Public Library Wins the 2018 ILA RA Service Award [Sponsored by ARRT]

Back in March of 2017 I had this Call to Action post asking you to nominate a colleague for an award. Since last year I have made it my personal goal to nominate someone for an award at least once a year. My nominees have not won yet, but I am going to continue to submit nominations because promoting and encouraging colleagues is important. Again read why here.

One of the awards I am associated with is the Illinois Library Association’s Readers' Advisory Service Award which is sponsored by ARRT. Click here for the details and criteria for the award, but here is the summary:

This award recognizes excellence in the planning, development, and delivery of readers’ advisory service to adults and teens and has been created in accordance with the mission statement of the Adult Reading Round Table: “to promote readers’ advisory skills and reading for pleasure through libraries.” Readers’ advisory is the ability to connect readers with materials that will satisfy their desire for something to read for pleasure

The ARRT Chair appoints a subcommittee to go through the qualified nominations, assess them in response to the award criteria, and make a recommendation, each year. This year, I had the honor of serving on that subcommittee. We had 5 qualified nominations and all were very exciting and inspiring. In fact, that might have been the best part of the process, seeing how much wonderful RA Service is happening all around the state.

In the end we picked the Adult Services Department from the Deerfield Public Library as our winners. From the official press release:

The Adult Services Department of the Deerfield Public Library is the recipient of the 2018 Illinois Library Association Readers’ Advisory Service Award. The award,presented and sponsored by the Adult Reading Round Table, recognizes excellence in the planning, development and delivery of readers’ advisory service to adults and teens. 

Deerfield’s Adult Services Department was selected for their innovative, impactful Read Without Boundaries program. This year-long program was launched in January 2018 to challenge patrons to read outside their comfort zone, with the goal of strengthening the community, broadening understanding of others, and providing insight into different cultures, opinions, and perspectives. Each month of the program features a selected theme meant to challenge patrons to read one title that promotes empathy or understanding. Readers receive prizes for individual challenges and completing the overall program. The program is an adult program, but adults of all abilities are encouraged to participate, regardless of reading level. 

Claire Steiner, Head of Adult Services cites positive feedback from participants, stating:“Many participants expressed that they would never have read a book like the one theychose had it not been for the challenge. The program has provided the Deerfield community with a multitude of opportunities to grow as readers and thinkers.”The impact of the monthly challenges was documented through patron responses: 

January Challenge: Read a Book Written by an Immigrant or with an Immigration Story

•   “Made me think more about the current refugee crisis and the enormous challengesfacing those forced to flee their homes.”
•   “It reminded me that immigration is more complex than just "wanting a better life" andthat it's easier to understand anyone when you know more about them. I've had this book on my "to-read" list since 2015 and I'm glad the reading challenge brought it to the top.”
  
  February Challenge: Read a book with a theme of love, kindness, empathy or compassion.

•   “Everyone has a need to have someone notice their existence.”
•   “This is essentially the kind of life I want to lead, making a positive contribution to the
  world.”
•   “Everyone has a story and is struggling with demons we know nothing about. We should
  not judge others before we really know them.”
  
  More information about the Read Without Boundaries program can be found at http://deerfieldlibrary.org/read-without-boundaries/.

Congrats to Deerfield Public Library. They should be very proud of their program with or without this award. At ARRT we were impressed with the comprehensive and innovative nature of the program, but also its ease of replicability for other libraries regardless of their size or location. Like we have done with past winners, we are hoping to have Deerfield representatives present on their program in more detail at a 2019 ARRT program.

I am so proud of this award, now in its 4th year. It is one of the best things ARRT does. As Illinois’s largest RA training and networking group, ARRT pays it forward every year by acknowledging and recognizing our peers. You should to. Find a way to promote RA Service where you live. Sure not everyone is part of an organization like ARRT and cannot sponsor an award, but you can nominate someone for something-- an award- national, regional or local.

When you advocate for your colleagues you promote the work that all of of us do every single day.

Congratulations to all of the ILA Award Winners. They are a distinguished bunch. Take a look for yourself. I can’t wait to be there to honor everyone at the awards luncheon on October 9th.