To be awarded to an MPLA member who has consistently worked behind the scenes to create, administer, or support a library-related organization … and who has not previously been recognized to the degree their work merits.
Roy first won this award in 2017, in recognition of his work as MPLA’s Systems Administrator, maintaining and protecting the MPLA server and solving a myriad of technical issues. In the years since, Roy has maintained an active presence, troubleshooting technical issues and supporting our infrastructure, particularly during our transition to the Naylor member platform. The MPLA digital archive owes a great deal to Roy; he coordinated the digitization process and, along with Stephen Boss, set up the navigable platform that makes our archival history accessible. No technological challenge is too daunting for him. Annie Epperson, past President of MPLA, wrote about Roy’s thoughtful, generous, and quietly brilliant side…. “A mix of warmth, creativity, and humble generosity and friendship, embodying the very best of MPLA’s spirit.” Even in retirement, he continues his commitment to MPLA. While he may have won this award in the past, his work in the years since has earned him this honor all over again. He fully deserves to be recognized and celebrated once more.
Roy was nominated by Robin Hastings, with supporting comments from Annie Epperson.
MPLA Beginning Professional Award — Nathan Camp
To recognize an MPLA member who, as a librarian/media specialist within the first five years of their library career, has made a positive impact on the quality and role of library service.
Nathan is from the New Mexico State University Library in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He first came to NMSU in 2022 and was hired as the Emerging Technologies Librarian, a new position. He has since created a podcast recording studio, opened the Emerging Technologies Learning lab, provided 3D scanning consultations and 3D printing services for students and faculty, and assumed management of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center. Current projects include creation of the Southwest comic book collection and a loanable technology program.
Nathan was nominated by Erin Wahl, with support from Elana Karshmer, Jason Bengtson, and Dean of the NMSU library, Kevin Comerford.
MPLA Innovator Award — Gail Santy
To recognize an individual … for a creative, inventive, trail-blazing project that has significance to the library community.
Gail was nominated both for the many innovations she brought to Kansas Library Systems as well as for her years of significant service to libraries across the state. As the Central Kansas Library System director, she moved Continuing Education online in 2018; established member director meetings; successfully separated from the Great Bend Public Library to the benefit of both institutions; and became a powerful advocate for all libraries with local, state, and national officials. She has been a national presenter and trainer in Trustee training, Human Resource Training, New Director Training, Library Advocacy and more. She is a graduate of the MPLA Leadership Institute and of the MPLA Leadership Academy. She’s even a retired Sergeant from the US Army – a linguist. Gail’s leadership, advocacy, and service will leave a lasting mark — not just on a single library, but across an entire region.
Gail was nominated by Maribeth Shafer, with letter of support from Patty Collins.
MPLA Distinguished Service Award — Val Nye
To be given to an MPLA member who has made notable contributions to the library profession… or performed exemplary service for an extended period of time.
Val is currently the Library Director at Santa Fe Community College and recently worked as the Library Director at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has worked in archives, special libraries, and academic libraries for more than 20 years. For the past 15 years, she has been presenting and writing about intellectual freedom issues in libraries, a topic made more significant by the many recent challenges to library materials. With Kathy Barco, she co-edited True Stories of Censorship Battles in America’s Libraries, published by the American Library Association. She has worked with the Office of Intellectual Freedom on intellectual freedom and privacy issues, and recently served on the Freedom to Read Foundation Executive Board and chaired the Krug Education Committee. A library advocate for many years, Val has consistently been a leader in our profession.
Val was nominated by Adriane Herrick Juarez, Park City, Utah
Carl Gaumer Library Champion Award — Brenda (Hemmelman) Standiford
To be given to the individual…whose positive support of the Mountain Plains Library Association is demonstrated by repeated conscientious endeavors towards libraries, library staff, trustees and professional activities.
A long-time active member of MPLA (over thirty years) and the South Dakota Library Association, Brenda has consistently and energetically supported South Dakota libraries, serving as Interim Director of the South Dakota State Library in 2021-2022. As MPLA President (2022-2023) and later as Past President, Brenda led the organization through the post-Covid year, worked to update the Association’s Manual of Procedure, then worked with others to reinvigorate the Past Presidents’ Advisory Council. More recently, she’s chaired the Nominating Committee and co-chaired the Leadership Institute Committee. A tireless booster for MPLA and the value of professional organizations, she’s the kind of member that makes MPLA so special.
MPLA Literary Contribution Award — Louise Erdrich
To be given to an author whose published writings have successfully furthered an understanding and appreciation of the Mountain Plains region.
Louise Erdrich, a well-known American author, grew up in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Many of her books depict the Ojibwe native people of the northern Midwest, but she also has written about the culture and traditions of German, Polish, and Scandinavian citizens of North Dakota and the northern Plains (The Master Butchers Singing Club, also a National Book Award finalist). Her books include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children’s books. Some of the best-known are The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse (2001), a National Book Award finalist; The Plague of Doves (2009), a Pulitzer Prize Finalist; The Round House (2012), for which she received the National Book Award for Fiction; and The Night Watchman, which won the Pulitzer Prize. Her most recent novel, The Sentence (2020) is set at Erdrich’s Minneapolis Bookstore, Birchbark Books. She is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota.
Louise Erdrich was nominated by Mary Ann Thompson.
