Frances H. Pletz Award
This award is given annually to that Michigan public library staff person who exhibits the same outstanding quality of service to teens during the past year or years as the award’s namesake.
Background: The award is named for Frances H. Pletz, a former Executive Director of the Michigan Library Association, because of her exemplary library service to teens in our state. This award was established in 1978 by the Young Adult Division (now, Teen Services Division) of the Michigan Library Association.
Purpose: The award is given annually to that Michigan public library staff person who exhibits the same outstanding quality of service to teens during the past year or years as the award’s namesake.
Qualifications: · The nominee must be a member of the Teen Services Division of the Michigan Library Association. · S/he must be an employee of a public library in the state of Michigan. · S/he must be nominated by a member of MLA. · S/he must have provided significant service to teens through a public library or through community service that exposed teens to the library in one of the following ways: innovative programming; service on a committee; contributing research; presenting at a workshop; or developing materials for a workshop. · The nominee need not have a degree in library or information science. · S/he is not required to possess a Michigan Librarian’s Professional Certificate.
Eligibility: Anyone who is a current member of TSD may be nominated for the award, except for members of the nominating committee and members of the TSD Board.
Nominating Committee: The committee shall be chaired by the TSD Chair-Elect and consist of four additional members who are also members of TSD. The committee shall meet as often as needed to determine the award winner (most likely two or three times) before Spring Institute. A committee member may serve up to three consecutive years if s/he so desires (but, there is no limit to total number of years a member may serve).
Balloting: (The Chair will not vote unless there is a tie.) The ballot asks the committee members to rank the top three nominees: first (5 points), second (3 points), and third (1 point). The vote will be by anonymous ballot.
Presentation of Award: The award shall be presented at Spring Institute by the person who nominated the winner. In the event that the person who nominated the winner is unable to fulfill this duty, a member of the committee will present the award in his or her place.
