March 21, 1999 FLICC Awards Honor Federal Librarians, Technicians, Libraries and Information Centers

To recognize the innovative ways federal libraries, librarians and library technicians fulfill the information demands of government, business, scholarly communities and the American public, the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) has announced the winners of its national awards for federal librarianship. Federal libraries and staff throughout the United States and abroad competed in three award categories for the first annual FLICC Awards.

The award winners were honored at the 16th Annual FLICC Forum on Federal Information Policies on March 10 in Washington, D.C., where they received engraved awards and were guests of the forum. Their names and the names of future winners will remain on permanent display in the FLICC offices at the Library of Congress.

1998 Federal Library/Information Center of the Year

Intense competition among libraries and information centers with outstanding, innovative, and sustained achievements in Fiscal Year 1998 resulted in a tie for this category:

1998 Federal Library of the Year
National Institutes of Health Library

This federal health sciences library was recognized for its initiative and vision in serving as a single, virtual entry point into an integrated system of organized databases linked with collections for information gathering, real-time electronic request capabilities, digital consultation with staff and instruction modules for electronic resources. In 1998, the NIH library continually supported the biomedical and behavioral research needs of its client community, providing comprehensive, innovative and value-added information services and products designed for its customers' information needs. Suzanne Grefsheim, the library chief, and Steve Ficca, NIH associate director for research services, accepted the award.

1998 Federal Information Center
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)

DTIC was recognized for its strong commitment to excellence, a customer-oriented focus and an outstanding reputation for leading-edge use of technology and the Internet for information dissemination. This center expanded the Department of Defense's investment in research and development by extending access to and use of scientific and technical information. The resulting infrastructure encouraged individual and collaborative uses and provided access to Department of Defense information worldwide. Kurt Molholm, its administrator, accepted the award.

1998 Federal Librarian of the Year
Joan Buntzen, Librarian of the Navy

Joan Buntzen was recognized for her professional achievements in Fiscal Year 1998 in the advancement of library and information sciences, the promotion and development of services in support of her agency's mission, and demonstrated professionalism. Ms. Buntzen's visionary approach in promoting technological innovations and interagency cooperation within the federal library community led to the Navy Virtual Library and the conceptualization of the Navy Knowledge Network. She also established a partnership between the Navy and Marine Corps libraries, simplified Navy library procurement and promoted the benefits of centralized information services to high-level Navy officials.

1998 Federal Library Technician of the Year
Connie Clarkston, David Grant Medical Library, Travis Air Force Base

Connie Clarkston was recognized for her outstanding, innovative and sustained achievements during Fiscal Year 1998 in demonstrating a high level of commitment to service excellence in support of her library's mission through exceptional technical competency, flexibility in changing conditions and effectiveness in dealing with ambiguity. With a combination of independent judgment, competence, enthusiasm and vigor in managing the day-to-day affairs of the David Grant Medical Library, Ms. Clarkston has exhibited a positive attitude and warm personal attention to library customers. Following the retirement of the professional librarian at the library, Ms. Clarkston singlehandedly maintained service to the medical center staff and clientele, expanded the library's on-line resources and improved its security.

Information on the 1999 award program will be announced later this summer. For the latest information on the awards, refer to the FLICC Web site (https://www.loc.gov/flicc/) under the "What's New" section.

The Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) 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.