Judi's Speech
2003 SLSA Distinguished Service Award
Presentation Remarks: Judi Dzikowski
SLMS Conference, Saratoga Springs
May 2, 2003
Good evening, I’m Judi Dzikowski, the OCM SLS Director and President of
School Library Systems Association.
The purpose of the SLSA Distinguished Service Award is to recognize a
School Library System Director for providing an outstanding contribution
to school librarianship and to the SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEMS ASSOCIATION OF
NEW YORK STATE, Inc. The areas to be considered are: professional
leadership, professional service, information sharing, collaboration, quality
programs and creative service.
This year the SLSA Distinguished Service Award is presented to a person
who has contributed in all of these areas: it is my pleasure to announce
that Laurie Brooks from Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES School Library System
is this year’s recipient.
Prior to coming to the Finger Lakes region, Laurie was a Director of a
Public Library in Maine, and Department Head and School library media specialist
in New Hampshire.
Since becoming a SLS Director in 1991-Laurie works tirelessly advocating
for libraries, library funding, continued professional development, and quality
library programs.
She has served as SLSA president and still plays an active role promoting
and supporting our mission. Laurie was instrumental in writing the application
for SLSA to become an incorporated non-for profit organization.
She is a collaborative partner with regional and statewide SLS directors
willing to share her expertise and insight. Laurie possesses a great
deal of vision for the future that prompts the group to look ahead and to
put in perspective our goals and objectives. She was instrumental in producing
SLSA brochures, white papers and LSTA grants.
She works closely with librarians and administrators in their districts
striving to offer quality services and to spread the word about school library
systems. She is one of the first to create an interactive union catalog
for all schools in her region.
Her Professional Affiliations and service are too numerous to list. Highlights
include: Board of Trustees for South Central Library Council, Tompkins County
Public Library, and Nylink. She served on the NOVEL Planning Team as well
as the Electronic Doorway Library Action Committees well as many others.
Laurie, I speak on behalf of the School Library System Association and
also as a friend: I am honored to present you with this well deserved award
for the contributions you have made for our system, for our state and for
our children. Thank you.
Laurie's Speech
Laurie's Speech
2003 SLSA Distinguished Service Award
Presentation Remarks: Laurie Brooks
SLMS Conference, Saratoga Springs
May 2, 2003
It is with great honor that I accept this award from my School Library
System colleagues. I have enjoyed over 12 years of collaboration and
camaraderie with an incredibly capable, clever, and committed group of librarians.
Their encouragement, support, and assistance through the years have been
key elements in accepting and succeeding in the various service activities
I have undertaken. Thank you SLSA!
As it turns out, this is my farewell message. Time and circumstances
aligned themselves in such a way that I will be moving on to a position with
the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, DC. I
will be working in a new role but my focus on school library media programs
will remain constant. IMLS hopes to foster strong school library connections
through the agency. This includes LSTA, National Leadership, and Museum
grants as well as other national initiatives. I hope to see New York’s
school libraries represented. Consider grant possibilities, join in
the national dialogue regarding the 21st Century Learner, and work on the
recruitment and retention of a new generation of school library media specialists.
I would be remiss if I did not take a few moments to recruit a new generation
of school library system directors from among you. In the spirit of
David Letterman I would like to share the School Library System Top Ten List.
10. You get to take Education law as you work towards SAS certification.
This provides you with a complete background on the endless variations of
obscene T-shirts.
9. You will learn magic, SLS style. Amaze your friends as you turn
a $100,000 budget into a $250,000 program.
8. You will gain access to the Angus Saunders “Humor List.”
7. You will work for a BOCES or Big City School District, both held in
high esteem by our Governor - the next Governor, that is.
6. You will attend Orientation at DLD where you will begin your journey
into the world of FS-10s, DDIP, and RBDB.
5. You will enjoy sinful desserts on the veranda of the Otesaga once a
year at the SLSA conference.
4. You will work with Joe Mattie, Mary Linda Todd, Pat Webster, and Fran
Roscello. These folks dedicate themselves to education and libraries
and tirelessly support the efforts of school libraries and School Library
Systems.
3. You will be part of a regional group of SLS directors who will be your
lifeline. I have sincerely appreciated the support and friendship of
our South Central group, members both past and present. I will miss
you all.
(SLSA members please stand)
2. You will work with these talented, dedicated, and downright great colleagues
who are the heart and soul of the School Library Systems Association of New
York State, Incorporated.
1. Finally, you will work with the best and brightest school library media
specialists in the country. That is what the job of school library
system director is all about. You!
Thank you for your attention tonight and thank you all for the warmth
and support extended to me over the years. The New York State Library
Network including NYLA, SLMS, and SLSA is something very special and I am
proud to have been a part of it.
