Congratulations to the 2020 AzLA Service Award Winners
 | Newton And Betty Rosenzweig Distinguished Service Award René Tanner René Tanner is an Associate Librarian at Arizona State University in the STEM Division. She started her career as an academic librarian at Montana State University in 2008 and joined Arizona State University Library in 2011. She is currently serving a second term as Treasurer for the Arizona Library Association, which ends in 2021. René specializes in sustainability and life sciences. She is a co-editor of the upcoming book, Sustainability in Libraries, slated for publication in 2021 by ALA Editions. She is a frequent presenter on the topics of conflict management, empathy, and sustainability as it pertains to work in libraries. |
 | Outstanding Library Service Award Janene Van Leeuwen Janene Van Leeuwen is a Library Asst. II who develops and oversees the Education & Entrepreneurship Outreach efforts for the Buckeye Public Library System. She taught K-8 music and technology for 6 years and served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Liberty District for four years, Director of Arts Education for the West Valley Arts Council for 3 years and most recently has overseen the Education and Entrepreneurship Outreach efforts for the Buckeye Public Library System for the past 5 years. She has used her education background, experiences and skills to develop and run the Entrepreneurship Outreach Network (EON) program, in partnership with ASU Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the City of Buckeye Economic Development. She helps link today’s innovative people (youth and adults), with today’s growing Buckeye through workshops, meet-ups, networking, mentoring and a variety of opportunities that will help them start or grow their business. |
 | Sharon G. Womack Outstanding Library Tech Award Elma Shaffer Elma Shaffer was born in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico and holds Bachelors’ Degrees in Business Administration and Education. Prior to joining the Pima County Public Library, she spent 10 years working as an Administrator and Specialized Job Counselor, managing financial resources for programs related to unemployment, recruitment and job training. She also has six years’ experience in early childhood and special education. She has spent the last five years as the Children’s Services Library Associate and Circulation Manager of the Santa Rosa Library. Her passion lies in creating meaningful connections with people. She enjoys teaching children and creating new and exciting ways to increase their love of learning. Her enthusiasm in developing connections with agency partners has aided in deep and meaningful collaborative projects serving the local community. Her hobbies include STEAM education, astronomy, photography, yoga and zumba fitness. |
 | Outreach Service Award Nicole Umayam As the Digital Inclusion Library Consultant at the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Nicole supports small, rural, urban, tribal, and academic libraries throughout Arizona on digital equity initiatives including wi-fi hotspot and laptop lending, tech training for librarians, community based digital preservation, and improving library broadband networks. This work was kick started through participation in the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s project, the Digital Inclusion Corps. She has a MA in applied linguistics and a MLIS from the University of Oklahoma. |
 | Outstanding Youth Services Librarian Award Caitlin Burns Caitlin has worked for Pima County Public Library since 2005. She began the PCPL Snack Program in 2013 which was awarded an honorable mention in the Wellness, Safety and Sustainability category by the Urban Libraries Council the following year. The program has since expanded to 12 libraries, serving thousands of meals to Tucson-area children and teens each school year. Until recently Caitlin was the Children’s Services Manager at Joel D Valdez Main Library in Tucson where she oversaw a renovation of the 9,000 square foot Children’s Room, funded in-part by an IMLS LSTA grant thanks to the Arizona State Library. Caitlin now manages the Nanini Library in Northwest Tucson. |
 | Follett School Librarian of the Year Lisa Morris-Wilkey Lisa Morris-Wilkey is currently a Teacher Librarian at Casa Grande Middle School as well as Lead Librarian for the Casa Grande Elementary School District. She has been an educator and school librarian in Casa Grande since 1991. Her passion is helping her students find the right book at just the right time. Lisa is the current co-chair of the International Literacy Association’s (ILA) Young Adult Choices committee, a member of the Children’s Author Committee for the Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB), and has been a member of the American Association for School Librarian’s (AASL) Conference Committee: Author Program and Local Arrangements. Lisa is also a current board member for the Assembly of Literature for Adolescents for NCTE (ALAN) and a member of the Achieve Pinal committee – a regional grassroots effort dedicated to working to develop a competitive workforce for future jobs by improving educational attainment in Pinal County. |
 | Friends of the Oro Valley Public Library Support Staff Heather Severson Heather Severson is a Program Instructor at the Pima County Public Library, where she helps people use library resources to achieve their goals of personal development, career advancement, and life-long learning. Heather has worked to support learning in a variety of settings, including The University of Arizona, Pima Community College, and the National Math and Science Initiative. Each summer she scores Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Exams for the College Board. As a freelance education writer, Heather has written assessments, instructor manuals, and other content for many of the top education publishers. Heather started iSchool at the University of Washington in September 2018, and expects to graduate in June 2021. |
 | Library Volunteer of the Year Award Robert Marlowe My name is Robert Marlowe. I moved across the street from the Parker Public Library in Parker, AZ in 2014. At that time I was very shy and did not like to be around many people. I went to the library to use a public computer one day and the ladies there asked me for help moving some boxes. The next day I decided to walk across the street to see if they needed more help. They were grateful for the nice gesture. I continued going to the library to help with whatever was needed. The ladies working there were friendly and it was nice to do something for others. I have been volunteering at the library for 6 years. I go there every single day they are open. The staff and ‘friends’ of the library are my family. We all work together to make our Town a better place. I always knew God had a plan for me. I am thankful to be part of this team. Thank you for picking me for this award. I am honored. |
 | Louise Stephen’s Memorial Scholarship Sheryl Orman Cheryl grew up in a large family who all enjoyed trips to the public library, and she continues to be an avid patron of the Pima County Public Library. Attended the University of Arizona, and worked several jobs before obtaining a position at the Murphy-Wilmot Branch of the Pima County Public Library system. She worked there for over ten years, and now attends the University of Arizona’s School of Information and Library Science. Sheryl recently moved to a new position at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. branch library. When not working or doing homework, she can be found volunteering at the Friends of the Pima County Public Library, playing chess, swimming, or spending time with her family. |
2020 Grand Canyon Reader Award Winners
The picture book category winners
Amy Fellner Dominy and Nate Evans
The non fiction category winner
Annette Pimentel
The intermediate category winner
Victoria Jamieson
The Tween category winner
Alan Gratz
The tween nonfiction category winner
Patricia O’Connell Pearson
Service Awards Committee Members
Chair Margie Trujillo-Farmer
Amy Rusk
Ingrid Trebisky
Jamie McCraw
Jean Kilker
Jennifer Whitt
Judi Moreillon
Kathleen Wade
Kelly Akin
Lynette Christensen
Grand Canyon Reader Award Committee
Co-Chairs Kerrilta Westrick and Shirley Berow
Mary Wong, Chair of the Picture Book Committee
Libby Gilmore, Chair of the Intermediate Committee
Jean Kilker, Chair of the Teen Committee
Kerrlita Westrick, Chair of the Tween Committee
Louise Stephens Memorial Scholarship Committee
Erin Lorandos
Wade Stephens
Rachel Martinez
Lisa Colcord
Sponsors
Follett School Solutions
Oro Valley Friends of the Library
Pima County Public Library
Little Chapel of All Nations