June 11, 2007 FLICC Announces Awards for Federal Librarianship

The Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship, which recognize the many innovative ways that federal libraries, librarians and library technicians fulfill the information demands of government, business and scholarly communities and the American public. FLICC will honor the award winners at the 24th Annual FLICC Forum on Federal Information Policies on October 12 at the Library of Congress in Washington, where they will receive their awards from Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. Their names will remain on permanent display in the FLICC offices at the Library of Congress. Federal libraries and staff throughout the United States and abroad competed in three award categories for the ninth annual FLICC Awards. The winners are listed below. 2006 Federal Library/Information Center of the Year Large Library/Information Center Category (with a staff of 11 or more federal and/or contract employees): Camp S. D. Butler Library System, Marine Corps Community Services, U.S. Marine Corps, Okinawa, Japan, is recognized for superior effort in enhancing the quality of life for more than 50,000 Americans stationed in Okinawa and mainland Japan. In fiscal 2006, the library system supported 550,000 patron visits, increasing customer use by 14 percent and receiving a customer satisfaction rating above 98 percent. Evidence of the system's energy, enthusiasm and success was shown in streamlined efforts in economical and efficient acquisitions, cataloging and processing of materials, the ability to offer nearly 500 individual programs for service members and their families, and dedication to maintaining eight libraries, three reading rooms and a technical services facility. Small Library/Information Center Category (with a staff of 10 or fewer federal and/or contract employees): George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Library Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, is recognized for effectiveness, versatility and dedication to the customer. The library embarked on a series of planning, marketing, training, outreach and service enhancement initiatives in 2006. By realigning duties, introducing efficiencies and making judicious use of staff language skills, the library developed and achieved nearly 60 percent of a multiyear strategic plan, expanded a multilingual Web site, hosted 120 facility tours, and completed more than 50 briefings to distinguished visitors from members of the German parliament and U.S. defense leadership. The library also expanded and enhanced its collection, reference and cataloging functions at an exacting pace. This led to an increase in eBook collections and database and online services, the creation of bibliographies on terrorism and knowledge portals, and the development of a value-added online catalog. 2006 Federal Librarian of the Year Carla Pomager, systems/acquisition librarian for the Army General Library Program within Community Recreation, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command, U.S. Army, Alexandria, Va., will receive the award for her dedication and contributions to leadership of change in fiscal 2006. Her accomplishments, knowledge of technology and vision led to her creation of the General Library Information System (GLIS), which provides information services to deployed soldiers as if they were visiting their home base library. Pomager led the effort to create the "My Library Page@" on the Army Knowledge Online Web site, which has garnered nearly 120,000 hits in just three months. 2006 Federal Library Technician of the Year Sabrina D. Honda, library technician, Hurlburt Field Library, Hurlburt, Fla., will receive the award for her commitment and knowledge in support of the mission of the Hurlburt Field Library. Known for her innovative programs, Honda implemented 120 events in fiscal 2006 that reached more than 3,000 participants. She also coordinated the logistics for the library's renovation and led the team responsible for relocating more than 35,000 volumes. Honda's high personal standard of excellence for service delivery for the office reference collections led to her success as a liaison to 75 base offices and their related procurement processes. Information on the 2007 awards program will be available later this summer. For the latest information on the awards, interested parties may refer to the FLICC Web site, www.loc.gov/flicc/awards.html. The Federal Library and Information Center Committee fosters excellence in federal library and information services through interagency cooperation, and provides guidance and direction for the Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK). Created in 1965 and headquartered at the Library of Congress, FLICC also makes recommendations on federal library and information policies, programs and procedures to federal agencies and to others concerned with libraries and information centers.