Friends of Libraries Section | Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award
About the Award
The Friends of Libraries Section is proud to continue the long-standing tradition of the Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award. This annual recognition has been given every year since 1993 by the Empire Friends Roundtable, now the Friends of Libraries Section. The Casey Award honors a volunteer member or a group within the library community whose efforts have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends of the Library organizations.
The Casey Award recognizes not simply good work on behalf of libraries, but recognizes the people who go above and beyond what is asked of them. They see a need, focus on a challenge, share goals, and commit to exceptional community service.
The recipient receives a plaque or other suitable award engraved with the recipient's name and the year of the award. In addition, a one-year organizational membership in FLS for the Friends of the Library group with which the individual or group is associated will be given. If an FLS Friends group membership is already in place, it will be extended by one year. This is a new benefit beginning in 2021.
Application Packet
The deadline for submission of nominations for this prestigious award is June 1 by 5:00 p.m. It's not too soon to be thinking about a worthy recipient.
FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award Recipients
2015 marked the first time that the Friends of Libraries Section honored a library volunteer with the Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award. This recognition has a 22-year history with the Empire Friends Roundtable, now FLS.
The FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award honors a volunteer member or a group of the library community whose efforts have contributed to the growth of libraries or Friends of the Library organizations.
2023
On behalf of the Friends of Libraries Section, the Casey Award Committee bestows the 2023 recognition, posthumously, to Marjorie L. Gascon of the Friends of the Webster Public Library. Marge was a longtime volunteer who worked tirelessly for the Friends in many capacities. She passed away unexpectedly. The award was presented to her family by FLS members during a ceremony at the Webster Public Library.
An Honorable Mention was given to Eileen Hall from the Friends of the Rosendale Public Library. FLS board members presented a certificate to Eileen at a surprise celebration.
2022
On behalf of the Friends of Libraries Section, the Casey Award Committee is pleased to present Jane Harkinson, President of the Friends of the Cornwall Public Library, with the 2022 Award. Library Director (and Jane's nominator) Charlotte Dunaief says "She has filled the position with grace and aplomb." Jane iis a great advocate of the library with both state and local legislators and the community – and has attended almost every NYLA Advocacy Day since 1995. Like Dan Casey, Jane is a similar model of dedication, hard work, and creativity.
2021
On behalf of the Friends of Libraries Section, the FLS Casey Award Committee is pleased to announce two award recipients: Friends of Fairport Public Library and Kris Macdonald of the Friends of Beekman Library.
2020
On behalf of the Friends of Libraries Section, the FLS Casey Award Committee is pleased to announce two award recipients: Friends of the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library and Friends of the Olean Public Library. FLS also conferred a Certificate of Merit to Mary Louise Morgan in recognition of her 10 years of dedicated service to the Elizabethtown Library Association as a library trustee.
2019
On behalf of the Friends of Libraries Section, the Casey Award Committee is pleased to present Helen Rados, current President of the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello, with the 2019 award. Helen Rados strongly believes in the mission of public libraries. She is a founding member of the EBCPL Friends group and has, since the beginning of the organization in 2010, served as President, Vice-President, and Secretary.
The following four nominees have received Certificates of Merit in commendation of their dedicated service to libraries.
- Ann Hayes of the Big Flats Library Advocates for her commitment to the library at all levels of service from hands-on projects and fund-raisers to her service as a Trustee on the Chemung County Library District Board of Directors.
- Friends of the Pleasant Valley Library for their diligent response to a devastating library fire.
- Friends of the Maxwell Memorial Library for their exceptionally active and creative service to a library in a smaller community.
- Suzanne and Lou Dawes of the Friends of the Newburgh Free Library for their teamwork and creative attention to enhancing communication within the community served.
2018
We are pleased to announce that there is an award recipient and an honorable mention. This year’s recipient is Barbara (Bonnie) Shannon, Vice-Chair, Executive Council, Friends of the Kinderhook Memorial Library and the honorable mention goes to Nancy Bauder, President of the Foundation for Geneva Public Library.
2017
We are pleased to announce that this year's award will be given to Colleen Powers of the Friends of the Wadsworth Library.
2016
We are pleased to announce that this year's award will be given to Anne Andrianos of the Friends of the Onondaga Free Library.
2015
We are pleased to announce that this year's award will be given posthumously to Don Riplinger of the Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library (FFRPL).
Who was Daniel W. Casey
 Dan Casey (1921-1995), a resident of Solvay, New York, was known as “Mr. Library” for his tireless advocacy on behalf of libraries at international, national, state, county, and local levels.
Dan paved the way for libraries in legislative and other government offices with his persistence in stating his belief in libraries and in better library services. His involvement in libraries began with his appointment to the Solvay Public Library’s Board of Trustees in 1954, later becoming its President. From that beginning, he went on to serve with the New York State Association of Library Boards (NYSALB) and the American Library Association. He was named a Councilor Emeritus and an honorary Life Member of the New York Library Association.
Dan served on several statewide library committees under Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush named him to the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Informational Services. In 1988, Dan was appointed chair of the Commission.
Dan also gave his service to other boards including the Onondaga County Public Library, Central New York Library Resources Council, Syracuse University Library Associates, and the Empire Friends Roundtable.
In 1995, the Empire Friends added to the awards Dan had received by a posthumous presentation of the EFR “Library Advocacy Award.” The award was renamed the Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award in memory of Dan to honor him for being an effective library advocate for 41 years.
Photo provided by the New York State Library. Manuscripts and Special Collections. New York Library Association Records, 1890-1986 (SC 14879).
All FLS and EFR Recipients of the Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award
Recipients of the FLS Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award
2021 Friends of Fairport Public Library
Kris Macdonald of the Friends of Beekman Library
2020 Friends of the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library
Friends of the Olean Public Library
2020 Certificate of Merit - Mary Louise Morgan, Library Trustee of the Elizabethtown Library Association
2019 Helen Rados, President of the Friends of the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello
2019 Certificates of Merit:
Ann Hayes of the Big Flats Library Advocates
Friends of the Pleasant Valley Library
Friends of the Maxwell Memorial Library
Suzanne and Lou Dawes of the Friends of the Newburgh Free Library
2018 Barbara (Bonnie) Shannon, Vice-Chair, Executive Council, Friends of the Kinderhook Memorial Library
2018 Honorable Mention - Nancy Bauder, President of the Foundation for Geneva P ub l i c Library
2017 Colleen Powers, founding member and Past President, Friends of the Wadsworth Library
2016 Anne Andrianos, President, Friends of the Onondaga Free Library
2015 Don Riplinger, volunteer, Friends & Foundation of the Rochester Public Library (FFRPL)
Recipients of the EFR Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award
This award was renamed the EFR Daniel W. Casey Library Advocacy Award in 1995 after being bestowed, posthumously, on Daniel W. Casey.
2014 Building Preservation Committee, Aurora Free Library
Read about the work of the Aurora Free Library Building Preservation Committee in this article published in The Auburn Citizen
2013 Janet Dempsey, Friends of Cornwall Library
2012 Frank Van Zanten, Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District
2011 Friends of the Red Hook Public Library
2010 Robert Manning, Baldwinsville Public Library
2009 Friends of the Orchard Park Public Library
2008 Dennis Mosley, Friends of the Albany Public Library
2007 David Cooper, Friends of the Bethlehem Public Library
2006 Hugh Lee, Bovina Public Library
2005 Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President
2004 Friends of the Macedon Public Library
2003 Friends of the Rochester Public Library
2002 Nicholas J. Pirro, County Executive, Onondaga County
2001 Harold J. Wusterbarth, Mohawk Valley Library Association
2000 Friends of the Shenendehowa Public Library
1999 Friends of Oswego Library
1998 Friends of Middletown Thrall Library
1997 Joan C. Silverstein, Westchester Library System
1996 Friends of the Utica Public Library
Recipients of the Empire Friends Roundtable Library Advocacy Award (the original name of this recognition):
1995 Daniel W. Casey, Solvay Public Library
1994 Michael J. Bragman, State Assemblyman
1993 Robert J. Trudell, NYLA President 1991
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