Jefferson County Public Library Association Library Champion Awards 2011
The Library Champion Award is presented annually by the Jefferson County Public Library Association. The Award recognizes an individual or organization who has made a significant contribution(s) to libraries and/or librarianship in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Dedicated to the memory of Canatha Early, Pleasant Grove Library
This year, we dedicate our library champion awards to the memory of Canatha Earley, a 2010 JCPLA Library Champion from the Pleasant Grove Public Library. Mrs. Earley died on April 27, 2011 in the tornadoes that ravaged our state. It was our great privilege to honor her last year and to dedicate our awards to her memory this year.
Debbie Bennett, Mary Anne Moseley, Mondretta
Williams, Deborah Fout, Dorothy Brown, Keith Shelton, Sandra Forman,
Patricia Guarino, Janine Langston, Janine Langston, Delisa Brison
Jerricho Cotchery
Cotchery Foundation
Birmingham Public Library - Central
For the past three years, Jerricho has inspired and encouraged the teens of Birmingham to read and aspire to reach their goals in life. At the conclusion of every library visit and tailgate party, Jerricho speaks to students about doing well in school, having unwavering dedication in building exemplary character, setting goals, and doing something every day towards making those goals a reality. Since partnering with the Cotchery Foundation, the Birmingham Public Library has experienced a significant increase in the number of teen participants in the summer reading program. Students ages eleven to eighteen who are actively participating in the library’s summer reading program have the opportunity to attend the teen tailgate party hosted by Jerricho and his wife, Mercedes, at the Central Library.
Homewood Public Library
Dorothy Brown has given her time and talents to the Homewood Public Library for over twenty-four years. Her dedication to her duties in the Friends’ bookstore has helped make the Homewood Friends group very successful. Annually, the Friends of Homewood Library raise almost $40,000 for the Homewood Public Library. Their contributions make the library very special. The money raised by the Friends group is used for programming and special projects. Dorothy Brown is truly a champion of the Homewood Public Library and she is greatly appreciated by those who work with her.
The Leeds Jane Culbreth Library
Mary Anne Moseley is a working member and
officer of the Leeds Library Foundation. She is a working
member of the Friends of the Leeds Library. She is a current
member of the Leeds Library Board of Trustees, and she is a
card-carrying, hard-working, library-loving patron. To find
someone willing to work in any capacity requested or needed
is rare and wonderful. Mary Anne ably represents us with a
working knowledge on any committee or project as needed, and
she does so happily and with gusto. She always has a great
attitude, and she loves and understands what the Leeds Jane
Culbreth Library means to our community. She is a treasure
and of immeasurable help always.
Keith Shelton and Sandra Forman
Hoover Public Library
The Patton Creek Barnes and Noble store has partnered with the
Hoover Public Library on several ventures this past year to promote the
library’s new ebook service. In October, 2010, the Overdrive Digital Bookmobile
visited the Hoover Public Library and Barnes and Noble set up a booth to
demonstrate their Nook ereaders. Keith Shelton and Sandra Forman answered
patrons’ questions and demonstrated the library’s new ebook service at the
event. Barnes and Noble even provided trays of fresh-baked cookies for the
all-day event which drew over 500 patrons. Since January 2011, Barnes and Noble
has provided an instructor for free Nook and Color Nook classes for our library
patrons. We have had over 300 patrons attend these classes. Keith and Sandra
have also provided Nook instructional sessions for the staff of the Public
Libraries of Jefferson County on several occasions during the past year.