LIASA - Nevada LMS Emerging Librarian Award 2025

The LIASA Nevada LMS Emerging Librarian is a recently qualified role model for the Library and Information Services community, a well-rounded individual who is gifted and skilled in many different areas.

This person displays characteristics that points to them being a role model for the Library and Information Services community, a person whose contributions could make a lasting impact on the sector and who will be an ambassador for LIASA, Nevada LMS and librarianship for the upcoming year, including embracing the post-modern digital landscape.

This accolade is granted in recognition of the achievements and accomplishments of emerging, inspiring and exceptional public, academic, school and special librarians and IT assistant managers who earned their LIS qualification in the last 5 years.

This award should be used for educational and development purpose and should be in line with the sponsors’ guidelines. 

Timeline:

1. Call for nominations: 05 June 2025
2. Closing of nominations: 30 June 2025
3. Shortlisting of finalists: 04– 08 August 2025
4. Finalist interviews: 30 September 2025
5. Announcement of winners: 03 October 2025 at the LIASA 2025 Conference Dinner, Boardwalk Hotel, Casino & Convention Centre, Gqeberha

Selection Criteria

All nominees will be evaluated on the following criteria: The nominee should:

• Be a current LIASA individual, paid-up member for a minimum of 2 consecutive years
• Must have obtained a recognised LIS qualification in the last 5 years
  • This should be your first LIS qualification

• Currently be engaged in the LIS sector
• Display good knowledge about the LIS sector and its resources
• Proof of attending professional continuing development courses

• Must demonstrate adoption and support of the digital landscape and technology

• Proficiency in at least two languages
• Demonstrate high levels of professionalism
• Have made an impact on their library/department/unit
• Be passionate, enthusiastic and have good presentation skills
• Must act as an ambassador for LIASA and Nevada LMS, the sponsors, during their two years of reign
• LIASA and the sponsor reserve the right nor to confer an award.

Eligibility

The following groups of people are not eligible for this award:

• LIASA Board members,
• LIASA staff,
• Sponsoring companies’ staff,
• Past winners of this award, excluding previously nominated candidates on the short list who did not win the award.
• Any person who has won any LIASA award in the past 7 years.

The following groups of people are eligible for this award:

• All paid-up LIASA members who meet the criteria above, other than members of the LIASA Board.

Nomination

The nomination must include:

• Nomination form to be completed and signed by the nominator and the nominee
• A motivation statement of a maximum of 200 words (1.5 spacing, 12 point font) by the nominator indicating the motivation for the nomination
• A profile of the nominee not exceeding 500 words (1.5 spacing, 12 point font)
• A motivational statement by the nominee, not exceeding 700 words (1.5 spacing, 12 point font) which opines on:
  • LIASA’s role in the LIS sector and the future role that the nominee believes LIASA should play
  • The projects/issues that the nominee would like to see addressed in the LIS sector
  • How they have embraced new technologies in advancing their work in the LIS sector

• A clear, colour, digital, head and shoulder photo (in .jpg, .jpeg, or .png) that will be used for promotional purposes. The National Office reserves the right to not use photos of inferior quality.

Additional requirements

• All finalists must attend the LIASA 2025 Conference in Gqeberha, in-person
• All finalists must attend the interviews on 30 September 2025, in Gqeberha.The time will be communicated to the finalists
• All finalists must be prepared to serve for two years to embrace continuation of projects
• It will be required from all shortlisted candidates to make a presentation using a Power Point presentation addressing the following topics
• LIASA’s role in the LIS sector and the future role that the nominee believes LIASA should play

• The projects/issues that the nominee would like to see addressed in the LIS sector.
• The application of rolling out technologies of the fifth digital revolution in academic and public libraries to enhance the work of librarians to support their Patrons.
• The Award money can be utilised for personal usage as far as the winner is committed to rollout projects and webinars as to be negotiated with LIASA and Nevada LMS before 24^th December of year of winning the award.

Important things to note for the successful awardee(s)

• Upon approval of the proposal of delivering webinars and projects by LIASA and the sponsor, the award money will be deposited into his/her account (preferably before the 24^th of December). The proposal must include the program for webinars for the following year in collaboration with LIASA and Nevada LMS.
• At the end of the first year the awardee will have to submit a formal report to LIASA and Nevada LMS detailing which projects were organised, delivered and managed during his/her first year of reign.
• The winner will act as an ambassador for LIASA and the sponsor as and when needed.
• At the end of the second year after successfully supporting the new Emerging Librarian, the previous Emerging Librarian will receive a prestigious Glass Award at the GALA event.

Downloads:

• Call for nominations
  
• Nomination Form
  

 Send the completed nomination form and all the required documents to awards@liasa.org.za