DC/SLA Conference Stipend Award Winner

By Diane Schnurrpusch

As chair of the 2011 Awards Committee, it is my honor to announce that the winner of the $1,500 SLA Conference Stipend Award is Janel White, a broadcast librarian at National Public Radio (NPR).  Active in the Association and on the DC SLA Program Planning Committee, she has repeatedly demonstrated hard work, creativity, intelligence, and a sense of humor while coordinating a broad range of events.

Janel was instrumental in hosting three sessions of the 2010 Leadership Lecture Series. She organized a tour of the NPR Library; hosted a program on digitization projects; and helped produce the Cinco de Mayo program, including locating, renting, and setting up a margarita machine.

She helped then President-Elect, Mary Talley, plan the Chapter’s 70^th Anniversary/Volunteer Appreciation event at SLA Headquarters last fall.  She arranged for the speaker, Kee Malesky, and tracked sales of Kee’s book, helped with decorations, and conducted the raffle.  A master of behind-the-scenes details, Janel obtained the refreshments for several of these events. She wrote Chapter blog and newsletter recaps to fill in members who could not attend the programs.  

Janel served on the 2011 SLA Leadership Summit Hospitality Committee.  She solicited volunteers for the registration/hospitality desk at the hotel and the reception at the Navy Memorial.  She updated the wiki with information about the reception, local attractions, transportation, and wifi hot spots.  She prepared the DC Chapter members’ reception invitation, got it posted to the Web site, and ensured that a payment method was in place.  At the Leadership Summit, Janel ran a very successful raffle to offset Chapter costs for the reception.  Lynne McCay, chair of the Leadership Summit Hospitality Committee, praised Janel’s work, saying, “She saw things that needed to be done and she did them – extremely well.  In short, DC/SLA’s strong hospitality showing would not have been possible without Janel.”

Janel isn’t taking a break anytime soon.  In 2011, Janel continues serving on the DC SLA Program Planning Committee and will coordinate the annual “Spend A Day With a Special Librarian.”  She is in her third year on SLA’s Technical Standards Committee.  She is also active in the American Library Association where she was chosen by the New Members Round Table (NMRT) as an ALA Emerging Leader based not only on her involvement with the Round Table, but on her growing involvement locally in SLA.  Janel has served NMRT as a program planner and Secretary and is currently running for Vice-President/President-Elect.

Janel’s leadership and can-do attitude made her a logical choice for the 2011 SLA Conference Stipend award.  The Awards Committee wants to help her realize her goal of attending the conference to continue to network with other SLA members, and build upon the leadership and planning skills that her DC SLA committee work has advanced.