OSLA School Library Professional of the Year Award

This award is given to honour a School Library Professional (School Library Technician) who has demonstrated leadership in the facilitation and management of a school library collection.

Criteria/Eligibility

Nominees must be a member in good standing of OLA/OSLA.
The nominated candidate has a positive impact on either or both of:
- Students and/or teachers in their use of and attitude towards the School Library Learning Commons.
- School Library Program through the integration of multiple literacies.
The candidate has embraced the following:
- The nominee is innovative and actively works on improving student engagement.
- A rich learning environment which promotes student engagement.
- Interest in and enthusiasm for the School Library Learning Commons.

Nomination Procedure

The nominator may be an administrator, teacher-librarian or an educational colleague and is not required to be a member of OLA/OSLA.
The nomination form can be found on the OLA awards website under OSLA awards.
The nominator must include evidence to support the nomination, potentially including but not limited to:
- Endorsement by at least one OSLA member.
- Nominators are responsible for documenting the accomplishments of the candidate and for creating a package of appropriate materials to support the nominee.
- Letters of support from colleagues, teacher-librarians, coordinators, students, and parents are welcome.
- Nominee’s work history and significant positions in school libraries.
Nominations will be accepted between: September– November.
Once the winner has been chosen, the OSLA President will contact the successful nominator.
- The OLA office will contact all unsuccessful nominators.
Unless otherwise arranged, the OSLA President will also contact the successful nominee and request a photo for promotion purposes.
- The OLA office will later connect with the nominator and the winner for award presentation logistics.
If desired, nominators may be involved in the award presentation such as creating and/or writing the presentation speech. Please indicate your interest to do so in the nomination form.

Selection Process

The selection committee consists of OSLA Council.
Eligible applications will be assessed according to the criteria as above and any supporting the documentation.
OSLA Council will review all of the applications and assess candidates’ eligibility.
The Council will consider all potential candidates, including those nominated from the membership.
Nominees who are not selected may be re-nominated in subsequent years with the submission of updated documentation.
The presentation of the award is at the discretion of the OSLA Council and is not necessarily presented on an annual basis.

Award Presentation Information

This award is presented at the OLA Annual Super Conference at the end of the OSLA Annual General Meeting.
The winner will be notified in advance of the award presentation.
At the presentation, an introductory speech will be delivered outlining the achievements of the award winner.
The recipient will prepare a short acceptance speech.
Guests of award winners are welcome to attend the award presentation, however, must be a registered conference attendees or registered guests. All attendees must have a conference badge to be onsite.
A description of the award winner’s accomplishments is traditionally published in the Spring issue of The Teaching Librarian and may be promoted through other association publications.