Shannon Bowman-Sarkisian was selected as the winner of the Indiana Library Federation (ILF) 2019 Outstanding Library Staff Award for her work on increasing Library access for domestic violence survivors.
Shannon was awarded the Friends of the Library Pioneer Grant in February, which she used to start Creating Access for Violence Survivors (CAVS).
The CAVS project created Library protocol for Monroe County residents in hiding or transitional housing due to escaping domestic violence. It also provided training for Library staff on domestic violence and related issues, and gave Middle Way House residents access to eLibrary and digital learning tools on Library-curated iPads and Playaway tablets.
"Shannon's commitment to improving access to the Library for survivors of domestic and sexual violence within Monroe County will make significant and lasting improvements in our community now, and in years to come," wrote Stephanie Waller and Sarah Hunt of Middle Way House in Shannon's nomination letter.
I know I have said it before, but I am still so humbled by all of this, and honored to have had the opportunity to serve my community in this way," Shannon said. "When I decided to pursue librarianship it was because I had a desire be of service. I'm grateful for all the help and support I received to bring this project to life."
https://mcpl.info/blogs/information-answers-reviews/library-wins-state-local-awards
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Noah Lenstra
Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
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