Allie Beth Martin Award Jury

Charge and Work

To select annually the recipient of the Allie Beth Martin Award. The recipient shall be a librarian who, in a public library setting, has demonstrated: (1) extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials, and (2) distinguished ability to share that knowledge.

Deliverables and outcomes:

• For the jury chair and members:
  • Stay apprised of the timeline in which PLA staff opens and closes the nomination application webpage via notices on PLA’s website and PLA members-only emails
  • Review award applications and supporting materials
  • Monitor award criteria and, if necessary, recommend changes in criteria or the jury’s charge
  • Increase awareness of the award and the number of applicants by spreading the word about the call for nominations
• For the jury chair:
  • Communicate meeting plans with the members of the jury
  • Lead virtual deliberation meetings
  • Vote on a winner in case of a tie among jury members
  • Contact the award’s winner(s) and confirm their acceptance of award
  • Complete jury selection form and send same to jury’s staff liaison

Expected time commitment:

• Review award applications and supporting materials (1–3 hours/year)
• Attend virtual deliberation meetings (2–3 hours/year)
• Respond to emails (1–2 hours/year)

Desired skills, knowledge, or experience:

• Experience working as a member of a virtual team
• Ability to critically analyze award submissions and eligibility criteria
• Strong communication skills