SLRI Awards

Are you hoping to get a project off the ground but need a little monetary help? SLRI mini-grants may be just the trick! Are you inspired by someone in your field or by the support of someone in administration? Now is the time to begin thinking about nominations for SLRI awards. Mark the RILA conference date (with a school library concentration) of Thursday, May 25 on your calendars. We will be handing out awards and celebrating in person at the newly renovated Providence Public Library! We will even have good swag and prize baskets to raffle off for the SLRI members who attend! We are talking about worth your time to be there swag/prizes!

Scroll below for all the details. Get your applications in by midnight on Monday, April 17th.

The Linda Aldrich Leadership Award honors the life of Linda Aldrich, library media specialist at Bristol High School and vice-chairperson of the Middletown School Committee when she died in 1989. She was admired and respected because she believed and advocated that being active and involved was the essence of life. The award is given to someone who brings these qualities to the library profession.

• Who is eligible for this award? Any current SLRI member in good standing (current SLRI Executive Board members--officers, immediate past president, standing committee chairs, members-at-large--are not eligible for this award)
• Who may nominate for this award? Any current SLRI member in good standing may make one nomination per school year
• When will the award be announced? At the RILA Annual Conference
• What form does the award take? Esteemed recognition on behalf of SLRI and a customized token of appreciation

Application

Rubric

The Mini Grant is awarded to make possible a future project that seeks to support student learning, improve a school library collection or program, and enhance the library and/or subject area curriculum.

• Who is eligible for this award? Any current SLRI member in good standing (current SLRI Executive Board members--officers, immediate past president, standing committee chairs, members-at-large--are not eligible for this award)
• Who may submit a proposal application for this award? This is a self-nomination application process; any SLRI member in good standing may submit an application.
• When will the award be announced? At the RILA Annual Conference
• What form does the award take? Up to two grants of $250 will be awarded

Application

Rubric

The Wilfred Berube Award for Administrative Excellence was initiated in 2000 to honor the memory of Wilfred Berube, the founder of the Rhode Island Educational Media Association (or RIEMA, now known as SLRI). The award is given to an outstanding Rhode Island K-12 school administrator who has provided considerable and sustained support to the development or enhancement of school library media programs in general and/or who regularly exhibits direct and positive support for and involvement with the library program at his or her school.

• Who is eligible for this award? Any currently serving Rhode Island K-12 school administrator
• Who may nominate for this award? Any current SLRI member in good standing may make one nomination per school year
• When will the award be announced? At the RILA Annual Conference
• What form does the award take? Esteemed recognition on behalf of SLRI and a customized token of appreciation

Application

Rubric

The School Librarian of the Year award recognizes an SLRI member who successfully fills the roles of teacher, instructional partner, leader, information specialist, and program administrator while building relationships with students and colleagues. Special consideration will be paid to accomplishments achieved in the past two years.

• Who is eligible for this award? Any current SLRI member in good standing (current SLRI Executive Board members--officers, immediate past president, standing committee chairs, members-at-large--are not eligible for this award)
• Who may nominate for this award? Any Rhode Island educator or administrator may make one nomination per school year
• When will the award be announced? At the RILA Annual Conference
• What form does the award take? Esteemed recognition on behalf of SLRI, a customized token of appreciation, an invitation to the annual Waterfire honoring Teachers of the Year across the state, and a set of state awards books (RICBA / RIMSBA / RITBA) appropriate to the grade levels taught.

Application

Rubric

The SLRI Maurice Tougas Award recognizes excellence among the graduating class of GSLIS’ School Library Media Program by rewarding the hard work of an emerging professional to develop future leaders in the state in honor of Maurice Tougas' legacy.

• Who may submit an application for this award? Any current GSLIS student in good standing with an expected graduation date in 2023 who meets the selection criteria outlined below
• When will the award be announced? At the RILA Annual Conference
• What form does the award take? $250 and one-year free SLRI membership/conference attendance
• Selection Criteria: Nominees must:
• achieve high academic performance
• demonstrate leadership qualities
• exhibit potential for noteworthy contributions to the field
• be a matriculated GSLIS student in good standing who will graduate in 2023
• complete a student teaching practicum at a Rhode Island school with the intention to become part of the Rhode Island professional community

• Submission Guidelines:
  

  • Nominees must submit a current resume and a 300-500-word essay on a topic of SLRI's choosing (see below for topic)
  • Applications are due by midnight on April 17, 2023.
  • Concise, well-written, engaging entries enjoy a clear advantage over other submissions
  • Incomplete or late entries will be disqualified
  • At least 3 readers will review submissions using the attached rubric
  • The nominees and/or the award recipient may be invited to serve a future role in SLRI
  • The purpose of this award is to recognize excellence as defined by the criteria and rubric posted above; SLRI reserves the right to withhold the award if submissions do not meet these requirements
  • Please note that award eligibility, application, selection, and submission criteria may be changed at the discretion of the SLRI Awards Chair and/or the SLRI Executive Board.
  Email any questions about this award or about the application process to slri.awards@gmail.com with “Maurice Tougas Award” in the subject line.
  

  
  

  Essay Topic:

  The school librarian's role encompasses a broad range of roles and responsibilities. You deliver lessons, manage collections, support curriculum, and navigate relationships with students and faculty, all the while keeping up on the latest trends in education and technology and reading new literature for your age group.

  As you prepare to enter the field, what is one concrete action step you plan to take in your first year as a school librarian? Your essay may describe a lesson plan, a grant idea, advocacy efforts, technology integration, community-building activities, collection development, or anything else that drives you.

  We look forward to reading about your future contribution to the profession!

Application

Rubric