Awards & Scholarships

Nominations for the 2025 KPLA Awards are now being accepted.


Please use the provided link to complete and submit the nomination form. The deadline for submissions is December 20, 2024.


KPLA Award Nomination Form  


KPLA Scholarship Nomination Form


The following awards & scholarships are given by KPLA at its annual spring conference.

Charlene Davis Excellence in Technology Award

Direct Impact Award for Frontline Workers

James E. Gugeler Outstanding Library Trustee Award

James Harrison Outstanding Bookmobile/Outreach Services Award

Margaret F. Willis Outstanding Community Library Service Award

“Miss Pickle” Outstanding Children’s Services Award

Outstanding Board of Trustees Award

Outstanding Public Library Service Award

Outstanding Service for Young Adults Award

 Intellectual Freedom and Library Advocacy Award

Public Relations and Marketing Award

Richardson/Conway Outstanding Library Volunteer Award

All award winners, including Fresh Faces recipients, will be announced at the Spring Conference. 


We have two returning awards that began in 2023:



  • The Overcoming Obstacles Award

    • Public libraries across the state have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years. Never has this been more evident than the destruction experienced by the Knott, Letcher, Perry, and Breathitt counties during the 2022 floods that devastated their communities… and in some instances, their library buildings as well. It is a desire to recognize the staffs of these libraries that have led to us recommending the creation of this nonannual (as-needed) award.

    • Nominations may be made by anyone employed in a library



  • Direct Impact Award for Frontline Workers

    • To celebrate the positive impact of front-line/circulation interactions. Honoring the exceptional skills and daily compassion in every-day patron interactions where employees create opportunities to go above and beyond by recognizing, identifying, and resolving patron needs efficiently and effectively. The consistent positive impact this can have on the reputation and credibility of a Public Library is intangible but wholly evident. This award endeavors to give these efforts the weight and recognition they deserve.

    • Nominees for this award need not be KPLA members.

    • The winner will receive one free year of KPLA membership.




Awards:

Scholarships: