OLA Larry Moore Distinguished Service Award

The Larry Moore Distinguished Service Award honours an individual member of the Ontario Library Association who has made a significant contribution to the libraries of Ontario through their work within the Association. The recipient will receive an honourary lifetime membership to OLA, which is presented at the annual Super Conference.

Criteria/Eligibility

  • The recipient will be a member in good standing of OLA.
  • The recipient may be retired, or a practicing library professional, information sciences educator/professional, or a volunteer within the library sector. 
  • The recipient’s contribution must be seen as significant from members from more than one type of library.

Nomination Procedure

Nominations for the Larry Moore Distinguished Service Award are brought forward by the OLA Committees (including the OLA Awards Committee), Councils and the OLA Board.

Selection Process

  • This award accepts nominations from OLA Committees, Councils and OLA Board of Directors. 
  • The process for this award is stewarded by the OLA Awards Committee, which is a subcommittee of the OLA Board of Directors.  
  • The OLA Awards Committee will review all of the applications and assess candidates’ eligibility. 
  • Eligible applications will be assessed according to the criteria as above and any supporting the documentation. 
  • The OLA Awards Committee will present all qualified candidates to the OLA Board for consideration. The Board will consider all potential candidates, including those nominated from OLA Committees, Councils and OLA Board 
  • The presentation of the award is at the discretion of the OLA Board and is not necessarily presented on an annual basis.  

Award Presentation Information

  • This award is presented at the OLA annual Super Conference. 
  • The winner will be notified in advance of the award presentation.
  • The nominator (or designate) will prepare a brief introductory speech outlining the achievements of the award winner. 
  • Larry Moore or his designate will present the award.
  • The recipient will prepare a short acceptance speech.
  • Guests of award winners are welcome to attend the award presentation, however, they must be registered conference attendees or registered guests. All attendees must have a conference badge to be onsite. Further information will be provided to the recipient. 

Past Recipients

2025 Johanna Gibson-Lawler, Greater Essex County District School Board

2024 Sabrina Saunders

2023 Victoria Owen, University of Toronto

2022 Kerry Badgley, North Grenville Public Library Board

2019 Yvonne Patch, Hamilton Public Library, OLA Mentoring Committee

2018 Richard Reid, Durham District School Board

2017 Anne Bailey, Toronto Public Library

2016 Joyce Cunningham, Posthumously awarded

2015 Ken Haycock, Ken Haycock & Associates Inc., Ken Roberts, Hamilton Public Library

2014 M.J.D’Elia, Learning and Curriculum Support, University of Guelph Library

2013 Randee Loucks, Principal, CGS Consultants

2012 Sam Coghlan, Stratford Public Library

2011 Walter Lewis, Halton Hills Public Library / Knowledge Ontario

2009 Anita Brooks Kirkland, Library Consultant, Waterloo Region District School Board

2008 Michael Ridley, University of Guelph

2007 Bobbie Henley, Brantford Collegiate Institute

2006 Margaret Andrewes, formerly Lincoln Public Library; Diane Bédard, Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board; Art Rhyno, University of Windsor

2004 Sya Van Geest, formerly Mayfield Secondary School, Peel Board of Education

2003 Paula de Ronde, formerly Toronto Public Library

2002 Peter Rogers, Hamilton Public Library Board, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic DSB

2000 Bruce Walker

1999 Liz Kerr, Kawartha-Pine Ridge District School Board

1998 Maud-Mary Swalm, Gravenhurst Public Library Board

1996 Linda Helson, Ancaster High School

1992 Bruce Walker, Lakeport Secondary School, St. Catharines

1990 Bernard Katz, University of Guelph; Gerda Molson, Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library

1989 Fay Blostein, University of Toronto

1984 Diane Wheatley, Ontario Library Association

1979 Larry Moore, Queen’s University

1975 Fred McNamara, North York Public Library Board

1971 Mary Silverthorne, University of Toronto