Library Trustees Association Section Awards

2025 Velma K. Moore Award

Presented by the Library Trustees Association Section (LTAS) of NYLA

The Velma K. Moore Award was established to honor the memory of Velma Moore, one of the charter members of the of The New York State Association of Library Boards (NYSALB), now the Library Trustees Association Section (LTAS) of New York Library Association (NYLA), and wife of former New York State Lt. Governor Frank C. Moore. Mrs. Moore worked actively for the improvement of library service in New York State from 1947 until her death in 1961.

Mrs. Moore served two terms as president and was a member of the NYSALB Board from its establishment. For thirty-three years Mrs. Moore was also a Trustee of the Kenmore Public Library near Buffalo, New York.

The Award, to be given annually, was originally established in 1962 with a gift from the Moore family.

The Award—with its $1500 cash prize--will be announced at the 2025 NYLA Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY and then personally presented to the recipient, along with a check, payable to their library or system of choice, at their home library at a later date.

Eligibility

Any individual or group of individual volunteers who have made exemplary contributions to the development of library services in New York State is eligible for nomination.  Nominees may include trustees, a community member, library boards, or any volunteer individual or volunteer group who supports libraries. Nominations can be made by anyone in the library community. 

Nominating Procedure

Nominations will be solicited annually with procedures and deadlines noted in the advertisement.

A letter of nomination should include:

•  Name and address of nominee.
• Library affiliation.
• A statement of not more than 500 words on the reason for nomination.

Name, address, contact information and library affiliation of the nominator.

Criteria for Evaluating Nominees

1. Measurable service to local, county, system or state libraries, advancing the effectiveness of these libraries.
2. Service in areas of legislation or other support that advance library causes with local or state government.
3. Promotional services through publishing, speaking or involvement in professional or lay library groups or organizations.
4. Service to state or national library organizations, e.g. Library Trustee Section, United for Libraries, New York Library Association, American Library Association or service on State study committees.