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Florida Library Association Awards-Maria Chavez-Hernandez
"Libraries Change People"

Welcome to the Florida Library Association Awards. We are honored to celebrate the remarkable individuals, teams, and organizations that contribute to the success and vibrancy of Florida's library community. These 16 awards recognize exceptional leadership, professional excellence, community impact, innovative programs, and institutional achievements. Whether you're acknowledging a colleague's outstanding performance or nominating a team for their groundbreaking initiatives, your participation helps us honor and support the extraordinary efforts within our library community.

Submitting a nomination is quick and easy. Review the nomination form for the award you are interested in to see what information you need. Then, fill out the form, answer all the questions, and upload any required supporting documentation.

Nominations are due by FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025, at 11:59 pm

Award recipients are chosen by the Florida Library Association Awards and Honors Committee based on a specific set of criteria. Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the 2025 Florida Library Association Annual Conference.

Award Nomination Requirements

  • The nominator must be a member of the Florida Library Association 

  • Each award has specific eligibility requirements. Please read the description and nomination form carefully. Be prepared to answer targeted questions about your nominee.

  • Some award nomination forms may ask for supporting documentation.

  • Be prepared before starting to fill out the nomination forms, as you cannot save your work and return. Nominations must be filled out in one go.

  • Nomination forms have word limits; please adhere to the specified limits.

If you have questions, please contact Anne-Maire Nurnberger, Chair of the Awards and Honors Committee, at [email protected] or Belle Reynoso, Awards Subcommittee Chair, at [email protected].

 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're new to our awards program or just want to brush up on the basics, our Awards & Honors Committee has compiled a list of FAQs to help you through the nomination process.

FLA Awards FAQs

Looking for another award? They're located here.

 

Award Award Description and Eligibility

Maria Chavez-Hernandez "Libraries Change People" Criteria

 

APPLY HERE!

To recognize an employee of a library, library organization, or library association who created outstanding programs and services that provide resources and programming specific to any underserved, marginalized and/or immigrant populations and honor the memory of Dr. Chavez-Hernandez and to perpetuate the dynamic spirit of her work.

Nicaraguan native Dr. Chavez-Hernandez received her Ph.D. in Library Science and Information Studies from Florida State University in 1991 and was a librarian, educator, and advocate for information and library access for immigrant and underserved populations. She was responsible for a large body of work focusing on Library and Information Services in the Caribbean and the Americas providing many resources and programming on the specific library and information needs of underserved and/or Latin American immigrant populations and their families. Dr. Chavez-Hernandez was also an active member of Florida Library Association, American Library Association, Association of Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), National Education Association (NEA), and REFORMA (National Association to Promote Library Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking). Dr. Chavez-Hernandez passed away in 2008.

Eligibility:

Nominee must:

  • be an employee of a library, library organization, or library association in Florida.

  • have been working actively for at least two years on the program and/or service that benefits a group such as: immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, incarcerated people and ex-offenders, adult new and non-readers, older adults, people of color, poor and homeless people, rural libraries, native libraries, tribal libraries, underserved youth, and bookmobile communities.