Mary Utopia Rothrock Award

Honoring Outstanding Contributions to Librarianship in the Southeast

Established

1976

Nomination Deadline

May 1, 2026

Award Cycle

Every Two Years

About the Award

The Southeastern Library Association honors a librarian who has contributed substantially to the furtherance of librarianship in the southeast during a career.

The Mary Utopia Rothrock Award was established in 1976 from the will of Mary Rothrock. It was sent to the SELA President on February 11, 1976, and stated, “I bequeath $10,000.00 to the SELA, the income from which shall be used to establish a biennial award. The recipient of this award is to be designated by a committee of the Association from among librarians of the Southeastern States, and chosen for exceptional contribution to library development in the Southeast.” The committee shall be appointed by the President of SELA and shall include librarians from varying member states of SELA. The recipient of this award has always been kept secret until the actual presentation is made during the conference.

Criteria

  • The age and years of service should not be a deciding factor in the selection.
  • Service in one or more states of the southeast would qualify a person for nomination for the award.
  • The award should be made to only one person in any biennium, and, if no deserving person is nominated, an award may be omitted for that biennium.
  • Nomination must be made by an SELA member.

How to Nominate

Please provide this information to submit a nomination:

  • Name of nominee
  • Nominee's phone number
  • Nominee's email
  • Nominee's mailing address
  • Name of SELA member making the nomination
  • SELA member's phone number
  • SELA member's email address
  • How has the nominee contributed substantially to the furtherance of librarianship in the southeast during their career?
  • Any additional supporting biographical information

Contact Information

Joy Bolt, MLIS
Dean, John Harrison Hosch Library, Gainesville Campus
University of North Georgia
joy.bolt@ung.edu

Previous Award Winners

  • 1976 Mary Edna Anders
  • 1978 Kenneth Toombs & John Gribbin
  • 1980 Frances Neal Cheney
  • 1982 Virginia Lacy Jones
  • 1984 Martha Jane Zachert
  • 1986 Ruth Waldrop
  • 1988 David E. Estes
  • 1990 Frank P. Grisham
  • 1992 Edward G. Holley
  • 1994 John David Marshall
  • 1996 Ralph Russell
  • 1998 Cecil Beach
  • 2000 Mary Louise Rheay
  • 2002 Samuel Morrison
  • 2004 Charles Edward Beard
  • 2006 Ann H. Hamilton
  • 2008 Kathleen Imhoff
  • 2010 None Awarded
  • 2012 None Awarded
  • 2014 Dr. Gordon N. Baker
  • 2016 None Awarded
  • 2018 None Awarded
  • 2020 Judith Gibbons
  • 2022 Wanda Kay Brown
  • 2024 Dr. Nan Carmack

Download Nomination Form

Deadline for submission of nomination: May 1, 2026

Download PDF Download Word