The Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award

The New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries, EBSCO Information Services and Friends of the New York State Library

Information Announcement Application Previous Award Recipients

image of Joseph F. ShubertThe Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award recognizes achievements by New York State libraries and library consortia of all sizes and types.  Named after Joseph F. Shubert, former State Librarian, the Award is given to individual libraries and to library consortia to recognize achievements that improve the quality of library service to their users. The Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award recognizes the many ways that libraries, through their programs, staff, and services, make a significant  difference in their communities.

The New York State Regents Advisory Council is pleased to sponsor the Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award.  Members of the 2009 Award Committee are Samuel L. Simon (Chair), Ellen Bach, and Sara Kelly Johns. This year's award includes a gift of $1,000 supplied by EBSCO Information Services and the Friends of the New York State Library.Other notable projects may also be recognized and honored for their achievements.

2009 Award

The 2009 Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award was presented to the New York City School Library System for their Tween to Teen program.  As explained in their application by Project Director Judith Schaffner, the New York City School Library System’s Tween to Teen program for New York City middle school libraries focused on the social and emotional issues confronting middle school students which often interfere with academic success.  The School Library System offered a grant opportunity aimed to facilitate the exploration of these social and emotional issues through the use of carefully selected fiction and nonfiction titles in book discussion groups and in the library collection.  Each of the 113 school library grantees received $1,800 worth of books, including 10 copies of each of three titles for a book discussion group, one copy each of 32 highly reviewed and relevant fiction titles, and one copy each of 55 related nonfiction titles.  In addition, each school library media specialist and a cooperating teacher, social worker or guidance counselor received training from the School Library System on how to conduct a successful book discussion, along with a professional book about book discussion groups for their library’s professional collection.  Project results show that some 65,000 middle school students now have access to 13,447 books through the participating school libraries.  Student book club participants gained confidence and felt empowered to seek advice and help on issues ranging from bullying to divorce and parental conflict.

More on Tween to Teen. PDF file [3.6 meg]

New York City School Library System web site external link

Runner-up for this year’s Shubert Award was the Western New York Library Resources Council for their project entitled, Ask Us 24/7.  This project is a cooperative virtual reference service open to all New York State libraries which allows library patrons to chat with a librarian to get research assistance.  The cooperative nature of the service means that each participating library staffs the virtual reference desk for a certain number of hours per week, while their patrons have access to the service all day, every day.

More (from the application) on Ask Us 24/7. PDF file [1.2 meg]; Ask Us 24/7 logo; click to go to the site Ask Us 24/7 external link

The Regents Advisory Council on Libraries 2009 Shubert Award Committee (consisting of Sam Simon, Chair; Ellen Bach and Sara Kelly Johns) was enthusiastic in its decision to honor the New York City School Library System’s submission as an excellent example of “the spirit of the Shubert award.” Ms. Kelly Johns presented the award to Ms. Schaffner at the 2009 New York Library Association Annual Conference in Niagara Falls.  The award includes a $1,000 check, made possible by EBSCO Information Services and the Friends of the New York State Library. Sheryl L. Knab, Executive Director of the Western New York Library Resources Council, was also presented with a plaque in recognition of the Ask Us 24/7 project.

Previous Award Recipients

[Click on the links below to view their applications for the Award. Some pages also have links to more information about the project.]

2008

2007

Story Quilt, a "one-of-a-kind literary, social history project of the Galway Public Library...."

Story quilt cover; Galway Public Library; click to enlarge the image.Left: cover of Story Quilt: Poems of a Place by the People Who Live Here; A project of the Galway Public Library. See Galway's application for more information and pictures.

2006
  • Southeastern New York Library Resources Council: "The Hudson River Valley Heritage (HRVH) Service," providing online access to historical materials from New York State's Hudson River Valley to researchers, students and the general public.
  • Albany Public Library: Bookmobile service, coordinated by the Library's Outreach Department, providing day-to-day programs and services so that "[e]very City of Albany resident shall have regular and equitable access to the information, educational, and recreational resources and programs of the Albany Public Library."

2005
  • Southern Adirondack Library System: "Statewide Performer Database," a unique project that supports statewide youth library service by compiling programming and performer information from all across New York.
  • Mid-York Library System: The "Regional Read" project promoted literacy and community involvement by encouraging people to read Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and to participate in programs related to the book.

2004

  • Rochester Regional Library Council: "CLIC-on-Health" project, an outstanding approach to providing the people of the greater Rochester area with high-quality healthcare information and resources.
  • Cortland Junior/Senior High School Library: "Parent-Child Book Club" project, an exceptional approach to promoting literacy by bringing together eighth graders and their parents for literary discussions and author presentations.

2002

  • Albany Public Library: "First Stop/The Next Step" project, a unique approach to addressing the needs of those in the community who are in the process of making the transition from incarceration to employment.

2001

  • Crandall Public Library, Glen Falls: Unique approach to addressing specific consumer health needs of patrons.
  • Four County Library System, Vestal: Exemplary approach to providing Internet resources to a rural community via a Cybermobile project.

2000

  • Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
  • Lincoln High School Media Center

1999

  • Kendall Jr. High School Library
  • Mohawk Valley Library System

1998

  • Brooklyn Public Library
  • Queens Borough Public Library
  • North Country Reference and Research Resources Council

1997

  • Port Washington Public Library
  • Science, Industry & Business Library
  • Potsdam Public Library
  • Reading Room Association of Gouverneur
  • Finger Lakes Library System & Project Partners
  • University Libraries, SUNY at Buffalo University
  • Southern Westchester BOCES School Library System
  • Suffolk Cooperative Library System

1996

  • New York Academy of Medicine Library
  • The New York Public Library – The Branch Libraries
  • Lawville Free Library
  • Mohawk Valley Library Association
  • Nassau School Library System
  • Fairport Library Council

1995

  • Brooklyn Public Library
  • Queens Borough Public Library
  • Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
  • Mid-York Library System
  • Honorable Mention:
    • Voorheesville Public Library
    • Woodward Memorial Library
Last Updated: November 30, 2009