MOTION: Codify Posthumous Awards
Motion Presented by: Awards Committee
Individual Submitting Recommendation: Amy Blevins, Awards Committee Board Liaison
Date: September 13, 2024
Motion:
MOVED, that the Board of Directors formalize that no current MLA awards will be bestowed posthumously unless a nominee was alive at the time an application was submitted.
Statement of problem or need:
During the previous awards cycle (2023-2024), the Awards Committee received questions about posthumous awards from Linda Walton, chair of the Fellows and Honorary Members Jury. Also, although rare, questions have been raised about posthumous awards in the past, as discussed below.
The Awards Committee has raised concerns about inconsistency in policy regarding posthumous awards and fears how such awards may complicate the review process for juries.
Justification:
It makes sense to bestow awards posthumously in instances in which the nominee was alive when the application was submitted. Outside of this guideline, too many questions are raised (how far back, balancing recognition of current contributions, etc.).
The formalization of the posthumous awards policy will also provide consistency across MLA awards and relieve the Awards Committee and juries of the burden of such decisions, which often involve a lot of emotions.
The Awards Committee recognizes the importance of honoring late members of our profession, but it believes MLA bears responsibility for doing so through other events and initiatives, including the In Memoriam at the Awards Ceremony or creation of a new award(s) for this specific purpose. The inclusion of ‘current’ in the language of the motion allows for creation of such an award(s) in the future.
Past relevant MLA action or policy:
Posthumous award nominations are rare and not specifically addressed in any award criteria. The most recent one was for Laura Shane Goldbolt in 2020. Ms. Goldbolt was alive when the nomination was submitted and passed away during the jury review process. As of August 2015, MLA membership is required for almost all awards.
Per MLANET, the following awards were presented posthumously:
- T. Mark Hodges Award for Laura Shane Godbolt in 2020.
- Estelle Brodman Award for the Academic Health Sciences Librarian of the Year for Kathyrn Nesbit in 2004.
- Louise Darling Medal for Distinguished Achievement in Collection Development in the Health Sciences for Alfred N. Brandon in 1997.
- Lucretia W. McClure Excellence in Education Award for Kathyrn Nesbit in 2004.
MLA Fellowship and Honorary Membership goes all the way back to 1899. There have been modifications through the years. Fellows were called Honorary Members until 1976. In the early years, there was a limit of 25 fellows at one time (which assumed the fellows were alive), but membership was always a criterion. The current cap, as of 1993, is up to five fellowships may be awarded per year. No cap on Honorary Membership.
A basic search on MLANET did not reveal any Fellowship or Honorary Membership having ever been presented posthumously. MLA Fellows’ bios do not reveal any fellowships being awarded posthumously.
A 2001 Fellowship fact sheet notes the following:
The Fellows and Honorary Members are presented a certificate in a leather binder at the Annual Meeting. MLA Fellows are elected for life and, (adopted at September, 1993 Board meeting) upon retirement from regular employment, receive all Regular Member benefits at no charge. Honorary Members are elected for life and receive all serial subscriptions and Regular Member benefits except voting privileges at no charge.
The MLA Policy Compendium does not show any reference to ‘posthumous’ relating to MLA Fellowship, Honorary Membership, or awards in general.
Implementation:
- Who will take action? (e.g., President, Executive Director, Board, Councils, Headquarters Program Director, Committees, other) – Staff
- What are the costs involved, and what will be the source of funding? – None
- What is the time frame for action? – Immediate
- What will be the impact on other association components? – None
Does this require a bylaws change? If so, what article and sections require revision? – No
You must be logged in to vote for this motion