 |
Maria Buhl, an Adult Services Librarian at the Guilderland Public Library, has been honored as one of the 25 winners of the 2006 New York Times Librarian Awards. Now in its sixth year, the program honors librarians from around the country who have provided outstanding public service and have had a strong and positive impact on their nominators. This year's winners represent 17 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. The Times received more than 1,300 nominations from 45 states this year. Ms. Buhl attended a ceremony and reception hosted by The Times on December 13 during which she received a $2,500 prize and a commemorative plaque. A separate plaque featuring Ms. Buhl's name and title is being sent to the Guilderland Public Library. Gail Collins, editorial page editor for The Times, was guest speaker at the ceremony. "Maria is a key member of our team here. She is the driving force behind so many of our innovative programs, notably the Consumer Health series, which educates the public about the healthcare issues facing us today," said Barbara Nichols Randall, Director of the Guilderland Public Library. "This is long-overdue recognition." When asked what the award means to her, Ms. Buhl responded, "It was a huge honor just to be nominated. And winning was totally unexpected and humbling. I am really proud to be associated with all the other winners. "This award program fills a niche. It demonstrates that being a Librarian is not just about picking the latest fiction bestseller, but about helping the people in your community get the information they need. Of course it's nice to be recognized, and in a national program, too. But, more than that, it's nice to be honored for doing what I would have done anyway. I have gotten so many thank-you notes from patrons who are grateful for the special programs we run, such as the Consumer Health series. Those thank-you notes from patrons show we're making a difference. This award does, too." Ms. Buhl went on to state that part of her success is thanks to the Library administration. "We have a fair amount of freedom to create programs that will help the community. The administration trusts us, and I think that latitude is key to our success." "We are very happy for this opportunity to celebrate librarians from across the country, whose enormous contributions sometimes go unrecognized," said Alyse Myers, senior vice president, chief marketing officer, The New York Times Media Group. "All librarians fill a vital role in our society - they are the people who bring together communities in the pursuit of knowledge. In doing so, they remind us that education and civic engagement are critical components of a thriving democracy. We applaud this year's winners and the work they do every day." The selection committee, composed of over a dozen leading library professionals from around the country, chose the winners. For more information about the Librarian Awards, please visit www.nytimes-community.com. |
|||
