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August 7, 2000
Contact: John Sayers (202) 707-9216
Robin Hatziyannis, FLICC Publications and Education (202) 707-4800

Awards Program Recognizes Outstanding Federal Libraries, Librarians, and Library Technicians

To honor the many innovative ways federal libraries, librarians and library technicians are fulfilling the information demands of government, business, research, scholarly communities and the American public, the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) announces its third annual series of national awards for federal librarianship in fiscal year 2000.

FLICC fosters excellence in federal library and information services through interagency cooperation and provides guidance and direction for the Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK). Created in 1965 and headquartered at the Library of Congress, FLICC also makes recommendations on federal library and information policies, programs and procedures to federal agencies and to others concerned with libraries and information centers.

The 2000 award winners will be honored for their contributions to federal library and information service at the annual FLICC Forum on Federal Information Policies in Washington, D.C., in March 2001. To further recognize these outstanding individuals and programs, a plaque engraved with their names and the names of previous and subsequent winners will be on permanent display in the FLICC offices at the Library of Congress.

Nominations are being accepted for these awards:

Federal Library/Information Center of the Year. This award commends the library or information center's outstanding, innovative and sustained achievements during fiscal year 2000 in fulfilling its organization's mission, fostering innovation in its services and meeting the needs of its users. All federal libraries and information centers that have not previously received this award are eligible. Intense competition and information centers that have not previously received this award are eligible. Intense competition in 1999 resulted in a tie for this award between the Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Library and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Library.

Federal Librarian of the Year. This award honors professional achievement and active and innovative leadership in the promotion and development of library and information services during fiscal year 2000. The nominee must be a federal employee and a practicing librarian in a federal library or information center. Marion Jerri Knihnicki, formerly libirary director of the U.S. Army Transportation School, was named 1999 Federal Librarian of the Year.

Federal Library Technician of the Year. This award recognizes the achievements of a federal library technician during fiscal year 2000 for exceptional technical competency and flexibility under changing work conditions. The nominee must be a federal employee and a practicing paraprofessional or library technician in a federal library or information center. In 1999, the Federal Library Technician of the Year was Rosette M. Risell of the Ruth H. Hooker Research Library, Naval Reserach Laboratory.

To obtain nomination materials, visit the Awards Working Group Section of the FLICC Web site (www.loc.gov/flicc/wg/wg-award.html); write to FLICC, c/o Library of Congress, LA-217, 101 Independence Avenue S.E., Washington , DC 20540- 4935; call (202) 707-4800; fax (202) 707-4825; or send e-mail to fliccfpe@loc.gov. The nomination packet includes the nomination form, selection criteria and a list of needed supporting materials. All completed nominations must be postmarked no later than November 15, 2000.

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PR 00-109
8/7/00
ISSN 0731-3527