Charles E. Beard Award

Honoring Individuals Outside the Library Profession for Contributions to Southeastern Libraries

Established

1988

Nomination Deadline

May 1, 2024

Award Cycle

Every Two Years

About the Award

The Southeastern Library Association is accepting nominations for the SELA Charles E Beard Award (formerly President's Award). The purpose of the award is to honor an individual outside the library profession who has made a significant contribution to the development or promotion of libraries in the Southeast. The President's Award was established by the Executive Board of SELA in March, 1988. The Charles E. Beard Award Committee is appointed by the President of SELA and shall include members from a variety of states in SELA.

Criteria and Guidelines

  • The award is given to an individual outside the library profession who has made a significant contribution to Southeastern libraries in one or more states.
  • The award will be made to one person in a biennium, typically at the SELA conference. If no suitable nomination is received, may be omitted for that biennium.
  • Nomination must be made by an SELA member. The recipient need not be a member of the association.

Required Information

Persons nominating an individual should forward the nomination form, and a resume of the nominee including professional/business and association activities, membership in civic organizations, writings if pertinent, single events and or other honors received. The person making the nomination will include a short statement outlining the nominee's major contribution(s) to the Librarianship in the Southeast. Supporting documentation such as articles in local, statewide and national press, brochures, correspondence, letters of commendation, etc... are welcome and encouraged.

Contact Information

E. Lorene Flanders
Chair, Charles E. Beard Award Committee
Executive Director, University of South Alabama Libraries
Mobile, Alabama
libraryadmin@southalabama.edu

Previous Charles E. Beard Award (President's Award) Winners

  • 1988 Barbara Cooper, Orlando, FL
  • 1990 Alex P. Allain, Jeanerette, LA
  • 1992 Herman Moore, Birmingham, AL
  • 1994 Minnie Lou Lynch, Oakland, LA
  • 1996 Jane Norcross, DeKalb County, GA
  • 1998 George Harding, Lebanon, TN
  • 2000 Elinor Swaim, NC
  • 2002 None Awarded
  • 2004 Frye Galliard & Amy Rogers of Novello Festival Press, NC
  • 2006 Doug McNamara, Mumford Library Books, Jacksonville, FL
  • 2008 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • 2010 None Awarded
  • 2012 Melvin Steely, Director of Georgia's Political Heritage Program, University of West Georgia
  • 2014 None Awarded
  • 2016 Kendrick B. Melrose
  • 2018 None Awarded
  • 2020 None Awarded
  • 2022 Dolly Parton

Download Nomination Form

Deadline for submission of nomination: May 1, 2024

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