Policy for Recognition of Individuals Who Have Rendered Extraordinary Service to the Whitman Public Library over a Period of Years
Because the community has been fortunate to have many dedicated individuals work for the success of the library over the years, the Board of Library Trustees has established a policy governing recognition of such individuals.
Eligibility for recognition
Special recognition could be made on the occasion of an individual’s retirement from a position, or as a memorial recognition on the death of the individual, or on a particular anniversary or celebratory event in an individual’s life.
The Process
The individual must be nominated by a letter to the Board of Library Trustees in which the criteria are addressed and details supporting the nomination are given. Nomination must include specific information on length of service, type of service, quality of service and specific examples of the value of the service.
The Board of Library Trustees may put forth a nomination, following the same nomination requirements as noted above.
The Board of Library Trustees must vote unanimously to confer the recognition.
The Method of Recognition
Once a recognition has been voted by the Board of Trustees, the Library Director will be asked to purchase a book for the library’s collection, preferably on a subject of interest to the individual being honored. The Board of Library Trustees will announce the recognition by a letter to the person or group requesting it, and to the library community.
A book plate will be placed in the front of the book in memory of the deceased individual or in recognition of service of a retiree or other individual. If that book should be retired from the collection at some point in the future, another suitable book will be selected as a memorial recognition, and a plate placed in the new book
The book will be presented by the Trustees at a meeting or public event, as circumstances dictate. A press release will be issued on the occasion of the presentation.
Rationale for This Proposal
The first question to be asked is, “Do we want to establish such a policy of honoring individuals?” If so, do we want to continue to follow established custom of using books presented in honor of an individual, or do we want to establish a precedent of naming specific areas of the library for specific individuals? If we want to depart from our established custom, what are the reasons for doing so, and what are the arguments against doing so?
What limitation can be placed on honoring someone by naming a portion of the library after him/her? Who would be eligible: trustees, employees, Friends of the Library, volunteers, and long-time patrons? Employees of other departments of the town government? Where do we draw the line? (The proposal incorporates a category suggested by the staff.)
If we decide to use the “naming” process, what areas would be up for naming? Who would get the “named” areas? What if we run out of spaces for names? What if someone more “valuable” is nominated five years down the road…do we re-name an area for that person?
Is this process of “naming” areas too subjective and liable to too much emotionalism and favoritism? It could be carried to extremes and end up not serving the purpose for which it was intended, causing hard feelings among those who felt they should have been honored but were not nominated at the time of their retirements.
Is it better to continue the established practice of adding a book to the collection? This has the advantage of recognizing an individual’s service, of adding to the collection at the same time, and of becoming a public relations plus by utilizing the presentation as an opportunity to publicize the library and its dedicated workers in all areas (whether trustees, employees, friends, volunteers or patrons).
This proposal is to formalize the established practice of honoring individuals for service to the library without creating inappropriate or subjective memorials based on individual interpretations of “what ought to be done”. Our decision should hold for all such recognitions and not change based on who requests an honor or who “should” have an honor. (The proposal incorporates some of the suggestions made by staff. This rationale also addresses some of the things mentioned by staff in their memo of input on this proposal.)