BEST SMALL LIBRARY IN AMERICA 2008 SPECIAL MENTION

The Chelsea District Library had good company among the over 30 libraries nominated for the fourth annual Best Small Library in America award. From tiny start-ups serving remote towns to those pushing the 25,000 pop-served limit, these facilities illustrate the high standards and innovative service in libraries across the United States. Among the nominees, several feature the services, programs, tech savvy, and commitment to community that signify the Best Small Library in America:

Castleton Public Library, Upper Hudson Library System, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, Darlene B. Miller, Director

Glen Carbon Centennial Library, Lewis & Clark Library System, IL, Anne M. Hughes, Director

JUDGES

LJ thanks the following library professionals who volunteered their valuable time to help select this year's winner:

Jaime Greene Program Officer, U.S. Libraries Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Susan Hildreth State Librarian of California; Public Library Association past president

Deborah Jacobs City Librarian, Seattle Public Library, LJ Librarian of the Year 1994

Eve Tallman Director, Mesa County Public Library, CO; past director, Grand County Public Library, UT, LJ Best Small Library in America 2007

Bernard Vavrek Director, Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship and Professor of Library Science, Clarion University of Pennsylvania

The panel also includes LJ staff: John N. Berry III, Lynn Blumenstein, Francine Fialkoff, Rebecca Miller, & Norman Oder

ABOUT THE AWARD

LJ's annual award, cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was created in 2005 to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of libraries serving populations under 25,000. The winning library will receive a $15,000 cash award from the Gates Foundation, conference costs for two library representatives to attend the 2008 Public Library Association (PLA) meeting in Minneapolis, a gala reception at PLA, and more. For guidelines for the 2009 award, please contact Rebecca Miller at miller@reedbusiness.com; 646-746-6725; or go to www.libraryjournal.com and click on Awards under Submit to LJ.