Bennington Librarian Oceana Wilson Receives National Award
Bennington College is proud to announce that Oceana Wilson, Director of Library and Information Services, has been named winner of the American Library Association's I Love My Librarian Award, an annual prize sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York and The New York Times.
Wilson, one of 10 winners chosen from more than 3,200 nominations, received $5,000 and was honored at a ceremony this week in New York.
"We are thrilled that Oceana was honored in this way," said Bennington College President Elizabeth Coleman. "I can't think of anyone more deserving of this kind of national recognition—her generosity of spirit, thoughtful support, and infectious enthusiasm would set her apart in any community. Bennington is fortunate to have her in the heart of ours."
"The 3,200 nominations received were rich with anecdotes of personal transformation," said ALA President Camila Alire. "We congratulate this year's 10 winners while recognizing these stories as a testimony to the importance of all librarians nationwide and the positive impact libraries and librarians have on their communities."
Since taking over as Director of Crossett Library five years ago, Wilson has served as an invaluable resource, educator, and friend to the entire Bennington community—known for (among other things) organizing popular events and projects, and for her thoughtful responses to student requests.
As staff and faculty member Carol Meyer said in her nomination of Wilson: "Oceana has had a tremendous impact on the intellectual life of the College. Her personalized approach to supporting the specific needs of both faculty and students has fostered a culture of creativity, adventure, and dynamism that debunks the stereotype of the library as a quiet monolith where people go only to study."
The I Love My Librarian Award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, and university librarians. The awards program intends to demonstrate how librarians are improving the lives of the people in their communities. Up to ten winners will be selected annually through 2012.
For more on the awards, click here.