Marcia Smith-Woodard at the Award Ceremony
l-r: Marcia Smith-Woodard and Marilyn Irwin
The Indiana Library Federation recently awarded Marcia Smith-Woodard the 2011 Special Services Award. The award “recognizes exceptional contributions or services which strengthen library services in a local community, school, or across the state. The person’s contributions must be of an extraordinary nature with unprecedented benefits to library or media center services.” Smith-Woodard’s efforts as the Special Services Consultant at the Indiana State Library and, in particular, the Project Director for the Indiana Librarians Leading in Diversity (I-LLID) program qualified her for this honor.
The award was presented at the 2011 Indiana Library Federation Awards and Honors Reception on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The I-LLID program began in 2008 when the Indiana State Library and the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science received a $1,000,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services “for recruiting and educating 30 ethnically/racially diverse students.” These student fellows, along with Debora Shaw, Professor and Dean of SLIS, and the Indiana Black Librarians Network (IBLN) nominated Smith-Woodard for the award. SLIS faculty member Marilyn Irwin was the co-director of the project.
The following are excerpts from the nomination letters:
“As an observer and occasional participant in I-LLID programs, I repeatedly witnessed Marcia’s effectiveness as a caring and supportive role model and guide for students in the program. Her vision and sense of purpose have made a profound difference in these students’ (many now graduates’) lives. More importantly, this initiative is already changing the face of our profession in the state.”
-Debora Shaw, Dean of SLIS
“Ms. Smith-Woodard is highly deserving of this award. She has made exceptional contributions to Indiana libraries which have strengthened library services across the state. Her involvement as a professional librarian in Indiana, including serving as an Indiana Library Federation’s Reference Division Director-At-Large for 2011, serving as the Immediate Past President of the Indiana Black Librarians Network, and serving as former Board of Directors member of Library PLUS, is of an extraordinary nature with unprecedented benefits to library service. We are confident that she will continue to be a benefit to Indiana libraries for years to come.”
-Indiana’s Librarians Leading in Diversity (I-LLID) MLS Fellows
“As a member of the Indiana Black Librarians Network (IBLN), Marcia is one of the first to warmly welcome members and friends into the organization. Marcia has served as President and is currently the immediate Past President. At many IBLN meetings, she would passionately discuss the need to recruit people of color within the state of Indiana. These conversations would invariably touch upon the lack of minorities at all levels of professional librarianship. Not one to complain, she took action and with her leadership sought grants and programs toward that end.”
-Connie Scott, 2011-12 President IBLN
- See Related SLIS News Story:
Posted November 22, 2011