Winners Announced for the 2025 Library Board Awards

• Library Board Awards celebrate excellence in Western Australian libraries
• Regional and metropolitan public libraries awarded for innovation and collaboration
• Kay Poustie Scholarship supports the development of staff in the WA public library network
• ALIAWest presents F A Sharr Award, ALIA Fellowship and service pins.

The State Library of Western Australia proudly hosted the 2025 Library Board of Western Australia Awards ceremony on 31 July, as part of Library and Information Week. The Library Board Awards are an annual celebration of excellence in Western Australian libraries promoting innovation and collaboration in the library sector.

Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration ($5,000 per category)  

The City of Melville Libraries received the Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration (Metropolitan and Large Regional Libraries) for its ‘Book Challenge System’, which addressed a critical need for a clear and accessible framework responding to Freedom to Read challenges concerning collections, materials and programs while ensuring staff safety. Their model has since been adapted by a number of libraries across the state.

The winner of the Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration (Small Regional Libraries) was Mount Barker Public Library, in the Shire of Plantagenet, for ‘Reading for Generations’. The project supports children’s early literacy development with two key aims: encouraging Hazara families to read with their children, and to build community pride and support for Noongar language development. The judges praised the project as “a strong community initiative that was genuinely consultative, collaborative and inclusive, with a focus on engaging new and diverse library clients.”

The judges were impressed with the strength and ingenuity of this year’s applications and handed out a record five commendations.

• Curtin University Library – Supporting Incarcerated Students in Undertaking Higher Education
• Denmark Public Library – Birdwatching Kits
• Fremantle Public Library – WA Poetry Showcase
• Gosnells Public Library – Lawyer in the Library
• R.W. (Bob) Farr Memorial Library – Nelly’s Key Word Sign Storytime

Kay Poustie Scholarship ($8,000 per scholarship)

Jesse Lee took home the Kay Poustie Scholarship which is awarded to enhance library services through evidence-based research and experiential learning in line with the Public Libraries Strategy 2022-2026.

Jesse Lee’s research project will explore how the integration of AI and Generative AI solutions in public libraries has the potential to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of library services for visually impaired users.

The Kay Poustie Scholarship is funded by the State Library of Western Australia, Public Libraries WA Inc., ALIAWest and the generous support of numerous private donors.

Australian Library and Information Association Awards

Library Board member, Constance Wiebrands, was made a Fellow of the Australian Library and Information Association for her significant and lasting contribution to the library and information sector both nationally and internationally. Throughout her distinguished career, Constance has modelled integrity, excellence and service to others.

The F A Sharr Award was presented to Brooke Donabie for her enthusiasm and dedication to the Western Australian library sector. Brooke champions graphic novels as a powerful tool for improving literacy and fostering a love of reading, emphasising their underappreciated literary merit and capacity to enhance critical thinking.

The F A Sharr Award is presented to a Western Australian librarian or library technician in their first three years post-graduation who exhibits the most potential to make a significant contribution to the library profession in Western Australia. The award is maintained by the ALIA West Committee with the support of the WA Library Technicians Group.

Seven ALIA members received service recognition pins, including an impressive 60 years of membership to Heather Treagold.

Comments to be attributed to John Day, Chairman of the Library Board of Western Australia:

“The Library Board Awards recognise innovation and collaboration in the library sector. It was inspiring to see the ingenuity and diverse range of ideas and projects being shared throughout the state.”

“Western Australian libraries make an outstanding contribution to communities — from education and early childhood learning to cultural connection and literacy in all its forms”

“I was honoured to take part in the Library Board Awards and celebrate the achievements of Western Australian libraries and library professionals during this year’s Library and Information Week.”