2022 Library Board Awards announced

• Library Board Awards celebrate libraries throughout Western Australia. 
• Awards highlight the ways libraries innovate and engage with their communities. 
• Margaret Nowak AM named a Fellow of the Library Board. 
• Former CEO and State Librarian, Margaret Allen honoured. 

On the 28 July the State Library of Western Australia celebrated libraries and their staff at the annual Library Board Awards. Held during Library and Information Week, this year's theme of "rewrite, renew, reimagine" reflects how libraries continue to grow and diversify with changing community needs.  
 
LibraryCraft won the Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration (Metropolitan and Large Regional). LibraryCraft is a free Minecraft server for Western Australia children aged 7 to 17. Users can create, play, and build in an online, connected environment. Forty-six local governments across the State offer LibraryCraft aiming to attract a younger audience to the libraries whilst fostering a safe space to develop digital literacy. Find out more information about LibraryCraft and watch a brilliant little YouTube video.   
 
The Shire of Ravensthorpe won the Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration (Small Regional) for Fitzy Unearthed and The Fitzy Files. They offer an alternative to local news services by using online video and podcasting channels to capture and share positive community stories. 
 
The Hon. John Day bestowed the Fellow of the Library Board upon Emeritus Professor Margaret Nowak AM. The award recognises those who have made a contribution and outstanding effort in furthering the cause of library services in Western Australia. Margaret Nowak was a member of the Library Board from 2002 to 2019 and Chairman of the Library Board from 2012 to 2019; the seventh longest serving member of the Board. 

Former CEO and State Librarian Margaret Allen PSM was honoured by the Library Board and received the HCL Anderson Award from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA); their highest honour. Margaret joined the State Library in 2004 and served the people of Western Australia and the library profession locally, nationally and internationally for 17 years.  

ALIAWest presented the F.A. Sharr Award to Emily Paull. The award is presented to a Western Australian librarian or library technician within their first three years following graduation who exhibits the most potential to contribute significantly to the library profession. Emily Paull gave an exceptional and entertaining presentation about the art of book recommendations, filling gaps in highly requested genres and the importance of being a book worm. 

The night ended with ALIA handing our pins to members who had joined the 50, 40, 30 and 25-year clubs, proving that working in libraries is a lifelong passion.