OPLA Advocacy in Action Excellence in Children’s or Teen Services Award
Nomination Period February - October
Public Library Sector
This award is to honour excellence in the advocacy of Children’s or Teen services and who has made a positive impact on children’s or teen services librarianship. The award can be given to an individual or group. It can be a service-based project; a unique program, a community partnership, an outreach endeavour or an advocacy effort that should be recognized and celebrated.
Eligibility
- The individual or project must meet the following criteria:
- Active involvement in the library profession.
- Enhanced service to children and youth in the local library.
- Innovation in delivery of children’s or teen services.
- Strong advocacy for service to children and youth.
- Modeling children’s and youth services librarianship as a rewarding career.
- Being a positive role model to colleagues and the wider community.
- Eligibility includes: librarians, library technicians, library assistants, or anyone working directly with children or youth in a public library setting.
Criteria
- The nomination package should include evidence to support the nomination and must include:
- A letter of recommendation up to 500 words
- Between 1 and 3 samples of the nominee’s work which could include planning or training documentation, marketing materials, program summaries, etc.
- Up to three photographs, news clippings, etc. if available.
- All OLA Awards follow the OLA Awards Procedure
Selection Process
- The selection committee consists of members from the Child and Youth Services Committee.
Award Presentation Information
- This award is presented at the annual Child and Youth EXPO Event
2026
2025 Audrey Kennington, Barrie Public Library
2024 Programming Team, Waterloo Public Library
2023 Serena McGovern, Barrie Public Library
2022 Not awarded
2021 Not awarded
2020 Not awarded
2019 Ardis Proulx-Chedore, Cochrane Public Library
2018 Christy Giesler, Story Sheroes Program, Kitchener Public Library
2017 Laura LaFleshe, Barrie Public Library
2016 Trish MacGregor, Stratford Public Library
2015 The staff of the Atikokan Public Library
2014 Oshawa Public Libraries Task Force for At Risk Children and Youth
2013 Brantford Public Library Choices Project
2012 No recipient
