PaLA's New EXCEL Library Service Award to Honor David J. Roberts

by Glenn R. Miller

The Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) announces the establishment of the David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award in honor of former PaLA president, David J. Roberts who passed away in September.

The David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award will be presented each spring at PaLA's Early Learning Forum and Best Practices Luncheon. The award will recognize the year's most creative and/or most influential program for early learning in libraries, and it will be chosen from the entire group of best practices winners. EXCEL stands for EXcellence in Childhood Early Learning and, as such, the David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award will represent the "Best of the Best" practices for library early learning.

The honor will consist of an award citation and a monetary gift to the selected library to be used to help advance early learning in ways best suited to them. The award winner will be chosen by PaLA's Public Relations and Marketing Committee from among the year's best practices in early learning.

Dave Roberts served as president of the Pennsylvania Library Association in 2000. Subsequently, he chaired PaLA's Public Relations and Marketing Committee serving a leading role in the creation of the Early Learning Forum and Best Practices Awards.

Dave Roberts was a beloved member of the association and a person who could always be counted on to serve his professional association, mentor a colleague, or simply brighten the day for those around him. He is sorely missed by PaLA members and staff and, through this annual award, PaLA's Board of Directors intends to honor for years to come the memory of Dave's unselfish service and unfailing good humor.

PaLA members and anyone touched by the life of Dave Roberts are invited to support the David J. Roberts EXCEL Library Service Award sending a contribution to PaLA using the attached contribution form. On all checks, please write on the memo line, "Dave Roberts Award" to facilitate record-keeping and gift acknowledgment.

The Pennsylvania Library Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and all contributions are deductible to the full extent of the law.