The mission of the New Members Round Table (NMRT) is to help those who have been association members less than ten years become actively involved in the association and the profession.
Learn more about NMRT on the ALA website.
This committee selects the winner of the Shirley Olofson Memorial Award, which is intended to help defray costs to attend the ALA Annual Conference.
After the death of Shirley Olofson who was NMRT President for 1971/72 and died during her term of office, the NMRT Executive Board decided to authorize the establishment of an award to honor her memory. The award(s) are given to current or potential NMRT members who have attended no more than five American Library Association Annual Conferences. Initially supported through donations, the award is now funded through an NMRT budget allotment. The amount of the award and number of awards given has varied through the years.
The Shirley Olofson Memorial Award Committee has devised the following criteria in selecting applicants:
One chair; five to seven members. Term begins and ends concurrent to the Annual Conference.
NMRT Leadership Director.
The committee is responsible for all publicity but should work with the Liaison Coordination and Support Committee to solicit applications via Footnotes and email listservs. Remember the usual 2-3 months lead time necessary for most publications when arranging for publicity.
The Olofson Award web site should be updated at the beginning of the chair's term and other times as necessary.
Last Revised March 2015; Last Reviewed March 2015