PARAlibrarian Recognition of Achievement:

Three Massachusetts paralibrarians received the very first PAralibrarian Recognition of Achievement (PARA) at the MLA Annual Meeting held at WPI on May 8th. The PARA requires submission of extensive documentation to demonstrate involvement in professional development activities, and commitment to a library career. Elizabeth Goodrich, Interlibrary Loan Associate, and Elenore McGourty, Periodical Serials Associate, both from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, received Level I PARAs (with 208.5 and 209 points earned, respectively). Allison DaSilva, Senior Library Associate, Technical Services Department, of the Reading Public Library, received a Level II PARA (for 353.5 points earned). To learn more about the PARA, contacts, guidelines, and how to apply, please visit the Paralibrarian page of www.masslib.org.

2006 Paralibrarian Section Awards:

Every year, the Paralibrarian Section of MLA presents two awards. One goes to an Outstanding Paralibrarian, a non-MLS library staffer who goes above and beyond the limits of the job title, and who exemplifies the ideal that true professionalism isn't limited to degreed librarians. The Paralibrarian Advocate of the Year goes to a person who truly appreciates the value of paralibrarians in our libraries, and who has worked to increase their opportunities and visibility. These two award recipients are chosen from nominees across the state, and the awardees receive a complimentary joint membership to ALA/MLA. This year, the Paralibrarian Section also presented an honorary award for special service.

Denise Faucher, Gael Nappa, and Elizabeth Wolfe

2006 Outstanding Paralibrarian of the Year: Denise Faucher, Human Resources/Volunteers, Worcester Public Library, Worcester. Denise was nominated and chosen for her extensive variety of responsibilities and accomplishments, and for her extraordinary service ethic to the library, the staff, library volunteers, and to the public throughout Massachusetts. To quote her nominator: "Denise has the trust and respect of all staff… (we are) fortunate that she has chosen to spend her career employed at this library, and it is a better library because of her."

2006 Paralibrarian Advocate of the Year: Gael Nappa, Children's Department Library Assistant, Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill. Gael deserves this award for her hard work as a union steward, and for serving on committees of the Paralibrarian Section of MLA. She tirelessly promotes the idea of opportunities for paralibrarians, and spreads the word about the activities of the Paralibrarian Section. Her nominator says, "I cannot think of anyone who deserves this award more."

Honorary Award: Elizabeth Marcus Wolfe, Director, Marlborough Public Library, Marlborough. The MLA Paralibrarian Section presented this special award to Betsy in appreciation of her leadership, advocacy, and continued support. Betsy served as the Chair of the Paralibrarian Section for two years, and was instrumental in rejuvenating the section, and in fostering development of the PARA program.

Please refer to the Paralibrarian Section of the MLA website, www.masslib.org, to read about other nominees, and past recipients.