MLA is seeking nominees for the 2014 Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth. The award is given annually to a Michigan library staff person who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of library service to youth, ages 0-18, throughout their career. The winner will be announced and presented with the award at the Spring Institute 2014 Conference in Battle Creek, March 27-28, 2014. Background: The award is named for Frances H. Pletz, a former Executive Director of the Michigan Library Association, because of her exemplary library service to teens in our state. This award was established in 1978 by the Young Adult Division of the Michigan Library association and was given to a teen librarian. In 2010, the Pletz Award combined with the Children’s Services Award of Merit to create the Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth. Qualifications: • The nominee must be a member of the Michigan Library Association or an MLA organizational representative. • The nominee must be an employee of a library in the state of Michigan. • The nominee must have at least three years of experience in a public library. • The nominee must have provided significant service to youth, ages 0-18, through a library that exposed youth to the library in at least one of the following ways: innovative programming; service on a committee; contributing research; presenting at a workshop; or developing materials for a workshop. • A degree in library and information science is optional. • A Michigan Librarian’s Professional Certificate is optional. Recommended: • Active in the Michigan Library Association is encouraged. • Additional community service. Eligibility: Anyone who is a current individual member of the Michigan Library Association or the MLA organizational representative, may be nominated for the award, except for members of the Pletz Award Work Group. Deadline for entry is Friday, January 31, 2014. To nominate someone for the 2014 Pletz Award, please review the full guidelines and complete the nomination form. Thank you, Laura Covey Director of Membership, Communications, and Marketing Michigan Library Association 1407 Rensen St., Ste. 2 Lansing, MI 48910 Phone: 517-394-2774 ext. 211 Fax: 517-394-2675 www.mla.lib.mi.us Leadership Academy is back in 2014! Want to hone your skills? Join us.