MPLA Board Choice Awards

The Board Choice Award, initiated in 1999, is a personal initiative by Board members to identify and recruit individuals with demonstrated ability in a library setting to membership in the Mountain Plains Library Association. The person is selected by consideration of their potential to benefit MPLA and the profession in a broader sense. MPLA Board members consider this award a personal quest to identify and recruit future library leaders, those who will serve their own library, their state and regional associations well.

Each elected member of the MPLA Executive Board is eligible to name one recipient per year. Elected members include the President, Vice-President/President Elect, Past President, and State Representatives.

Marilyn Hinshaw, MPLA Past President
1999-2000

Awards Presented By State Representatives

  • Arizona
    • 2002 - Jan Elliott (Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records)
    • 2001 - Dr. Betty Marcoux (University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science)
  • Colorado
    • 2008 - Sharon Morris (Colorado State Library)
    • 2007 - Stephen Sweeney (Regis University’s Dayton Memorial Library - CO)
    • 2006 - Monica Martens (National Indian Law Library - CO)
    • 2005 - Tania Hajjar (Montrose (CO) Regional Library District)
    • 2004 - Wendy Highby (University of Northern Colorado)
    • 2003 - Rhonda Gonzales (University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo)
    • 2002 - Cynthia Hashert (Auraria Library in Denver)
    • 2001 - Michelle Wilde (Colorado State University Libraries)
  • Kansas
    • 2007 - Ruby Martin (Lane County KS Library)
    • 2006 - Sharon DuBois (Jay Johnson Public Library)
    • 2005 - Judith Cremer (Pottawatomie/Wabaunsee Regional Library)
    • 2004 - Terri Summey (Emporia State University)
    • 2002 - Anne Liebst (Baker University)
    • 2001 - Laura Loveless (West Wyandotte Branch, Kansas City KS Public Library )
    • 2000 - Cindy Jones Hoverson (Atchison Library)
  • Montana
    • 2007 - Cindy Christin (Bozeman Public Library)
    • 2006 - Suzanne Goodman (Park High School Library)
    • 2005 - Milla Cummins (Livingston-Park County (MT) Public Library)
    • 2005 - Anita Scheetz (Fort Peck Community College (MT)
    • 2004 - Diane Potter (Helena College of Technology)
    • 2002 - Marylane Pannell (Kalispell Junior High School)
    • 2001 - Cheryl Heser (Rosebud County Library)
  • Nebraska
    • 2007 - Lisa Flaxbeard (Bennington Public Library)
    • 2006 - Evonne Edgington (Omaha Public Library)
    • 2005 - Rose Schinker (La Vista, NE Public Library)
    • 2004 - Scott Childers (University of Nebraska - Lincoln Libraries)
    • 2003 - Julie Simpson (Lincoln City Public Library)
    • 2002 - Lisa Olivigni (Crete Public Library)
    • 2001 - Betsy Lomax (Omaha Public Schools, South High School)
    • 2000 - Robin R. Bernstein (Bellevue University)
  • Nevada
    • 2005 - Donna Ridley Smith, (Washoe County Library System)
    • 2004 - Dani Porter (University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries)
    • 2003 - Felton Thomas (Las Vegas-Clark County Library District)
    • 2002 - Susan Graf (Nevada State Library and Archives)
    • 2001 - Tom Fay (Henderson Public Library District)
  • New Mexico
    • 2007 - Linda Morgan Davis (Albuquerque/Bernalillo NM County Library System)
    • 2006 - Laurie Canepa (New Mexico State Library)
    • 2005 - Anne Lefkofsky (Albuquerque / Bernalillo County (NM) Library System)
    • 2005 - Kathy Matter (John Baker School Library)
    • 2004 - Leslie Chamberlin (University of New Mexico)
    • 2001 - Lorie Mitchell
  • North Dakota
    • 2007 - Michael Safratowich (School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Univeristy of North Dakota)
    • 2006 - Renae Tholkes (University of North Dakota)
    • 2005 - Kathy Groendal (Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library)
    • 2001 - Mary Hegle Drewes (University of North Dakota)
    • 2000 - Pamela Drayson (North Dakota State University)
  • Oklahoma
    • 2006 - Victor Baeza (Oklahoma State University)
    • 2005 - Barbara Ray (Northeastern State University)
    • 2004 - Adriana Edwards-Johnson (Southwest Oklahoma State University)
    • 2001 - Sharon Saulmon (Rose State College)
  • South Dakota
    • 2009 - Dr. Anne Moore (University of South Dakota Libraries)
    • 2007 - Linda Allbee (South Dakota Library Network)
    • 2006 - Jodie Barker (Dakota Wesleyan University)
    • 2005 - Ethelle Bean (Dakota State University)
    • 2001 - Suzanne Miller (South Dakota State Library)
  • Utah
    • 2006 - David Morrison (University of Utah)
    • 2005 - Sarah Pitkin (Utah State Library for the Blind and Disabled)
    • 2004 - Leslie Schow (Salt Lake County Public Library)
    • 2003 - Wendy Holliday (Utah State University)
    • 2002 - Larry Hortin (Washington County Library)
    • 2001 - Robert Murdoch (Utah State University Libraries)
  • Wyoming
    • 2006 - Jessica Morrison (Teton County Library)
    • 2004 - Kyan Rios (Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library)
    • 2002 - Robert Staley (University of Wyoming)
    • 2001 - Trish Palluck (Wyoming State Library)

Awards Presented By Committee Chairs

  • Awards Committee
    • 2009 - Pamela N. Martin (Utah State University)
  • Membership Committee
    • 2007 - Kim Zahller (Norman Public Library - OK)
  • Nominating Committee
    • 2008 - Chris Hauser (Weber State University - UT)
  • Bylaws & Procedures Subcommittee
    • 2009 - Britt Fagerheim (Utah State University)
    • 2008 - Cheryl Walters (Utah State University)

Awards Presented By MPLA Officers

  • President
    • 2009 - Royce Kitts (Tonganoxie Public Library - KS)
    • 2008 - Susan Stringer (Tecumseh Public Library - OK)
    • 2007 - Pamela Soreide (Holdrege Area Public Library - NE)
    • 2006 - Sally Snyder (Nebraska Library Commission)
    • 2005 - Brenda Bailey-Hainer (Colorado State Library)
    • 2004 - David Gunckel (Sierra Vista AZ Public Library)
    • 2002 - Gloria J. Hicks (University of Wyoming Libraries)
  • Vice President/President Elect
    • 2008 - Suzanne Reymer (Montana State Library)
    • 2007 - Catharine Cook (Chickasha OK Public Library)
    • 2006 - Dana Belcher (East Central University - OK)
    • 2005 - Marty Magee (Nebraska Liaison, National Network/Libraries of Medicine)
    • 2004 - Valerie Horton (Mesa State College CO)
    • 2001 - Christy Valentine (University of Wyoming Libraries)
  • Past President
    • 2009 - Mary Moroney (Eastern Oklahoma District Library System)
    • 2008 - Marjorie Harrison (Panhandle Library System - NE)
    • 2007 - Mary Katherine Johnson (Marmot Library Network - CO)
    • 2006 - Lori Wylie (Western State College - CO)
    • 2005 - David Hunenberg (Peoria (AZ) public Library)
    • 2001 - David Johansson (Pryor OK Public Library)
  • Recording Secretary
    • 2009 - Julie Boyle (High Plains Library District - CO)
    • 2005 - Kathy Berg (Salida (CO) Regional Library)
    • 2003 - Janet Ahrberg (Oklahoma State University Libraries)
  • Newsletter Editor
    • 2002 - Chandler Jackson (University of Great Falls MT)

Awards Presented By Section Chairs

  • Academic Section
    • 2006 - Chad Hutchens (Montana State University)
    • 2001 - Nancy Lombardo (University of Utah)
    • 2000 - Sheila Bonnand (Montana State University--Great Falls)
  • Children's and School Section
    • 2005 - Christie Brandau (State Librarian of Kansas)
    • 2002 - Shari Haskins (Fremont County Library)
  • New Members Round Table
    • 2006 - Alan Aldrich (University of South Dakota)
    • 2004 - Robert Kelly (Hutchinson Community College)
    • 2001 - Ron Keys (Oklahoma State University Libraries)
  • Public Libraries and Trustees Section
    • 2005 - Catherine McMullen (Bozeman (MT) Public Library)
    • 2003 - Jeffrey Dawson (Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library)
  • State Agency, Cooperatives, and Systems Section
    • 2005 - Jasmine Rousey (South Dakota State Library)
    • 2004 - Diana Weaver (Northeast Kansas Library System)
  • Technical Services Section
    • 2004 - Mark Jacobs (University of Wyoming Libraries)