Awards

1. Mark H. Baer Award

Background: The Mark H. Baer Award was originally established in 1990 to recognize a San Andreas Community member who has contributed to the community or to the profession either during the current year or throughout their career; the award is now the primary professional achievement award of the San Francisco Bay Area Community, analogous to the former Professional Achievement Award of the old San Francisco Bay Region Community. Mr. Baer is recognized as the "founder of the San Andreas Community." After joining the Special Libraries Association in 1957, Mark served in many communities, division and national offices. He served as president of the San Francisco Bay Region Community in 1965/1966, as president of SLA in 1976/1977, and was named to the SLA Hall of Fame in 1984. When the San Andreas Community was formed, he served as its provisional president. After 18 years of service at Hewlett-Packard, Mark retired from his position of Manager of the Corporate Library in 1984. He died in St. Helena, California, on October 10, 1986. Purpose: to recognize one or more members for notable and enduring contributions to the community and the profession. The Award represents a cumulative evaluation of an individual’s career and emphasizes local activity and leadership of an exemplary nature. Criteria for recipient(s): To be eligible for the Award, the nominee(s) must be a current community member, active or retired, in good standing. The Award honors Ccmmunity members who achieve distinction in areas of professional concern and activity. Particular attention should be given to local involvement and community contributions.

Nominees may excel in one or more areas:

• Outstanding leadership in the community, at meetings, and in committee work. Notable service to the community, such as participation in special projects.
• Participation in seminars, teaching courses, and public speaking activities.
• Publication and editorial contributions to professional literature.
• Innovations at the worksite.
• Mentoring activities, which encourage others in the profession.
• Extracurricular activities, which provide the profession and/or the community with commendable publicity and acclaim.
• Other achievements indicating noteworthy dedication to the profession of special librarianship/information science.

2. Lucy Steelman Award

Background and Purpose: The Lucy Steelman Award recognizes a member who mentors colleagues in any number of ways. Lucy Steelman, a community member who passed away in 2003, was among the earliest to realize the advantages of technology in corporate libraries and worked hard to implement electronic resources at SRI where she worked for many years. The common thread in peoples’ memories of Lucy is what a wonderful a mentor she was—energetic, encouraging, supportive, helpful, and appreciative. Lucy was also a champion for SLA. She was active in the San Francisco Community before San Andreas was formed and then was active here for her remaining years. She taught early education and professional development workshops, hosted community events at SRI, chaired the professional development, hospitality and consultation committees, and served as community president in 2000-2001. . Criteria for recipient(s): To be eligible for the Award, the nominee(s) must be a current community member, active or retired, in good standing. The Award honors community members who achieve distinction in areas related to mentoring. Award gift: certificate and gift, or gift card relevant to the awardee’s interests such as garden tools, books, tennis lessons, etc. and dinner for recipient and a guest at the meeting where award is presented.

Previous winners: 2021, Rennie Lum and Marlene Vogelsang; 2015, Coleen Hathaway-Rosa; 2013, Philip Gust; 2011, Anne Barker; 2010, Cindy Hill; 2009, Sonia Dorfman; 2008, Wynne Dobyns; 2007, Patricia Parsons; 2006, Eric Kristofferson

3. Student Award

Purpose: recognizes Student community member for notable activities and contributions to the community and the profession. The Award represents an evaluation of an individual’s career potential and emphasizes local activity and leadership of an exemplary nature. Criteria for recipient: must be an SLA-SF student community member and a student in an information professional program who achieves distinction in areas of professional concern and activity. Particular attention should be given to local involvement and community contributions. Award gift: Certificate and one year membership in SLA and the San Francisco Bay Area Community and one division to be redeemed within 3 years.

Previous winners: 2022, Max Rosen, 2021, Tina Kremzner-Hsing; 2018, Amy Nykamp; 2014, Cory Laurence

4. Horizon Award (New member award)

Purpose: recognizes community member of five (5) years or fewer who has shown promise of becoming an outstanding member of the profession. This award represents an evaluation of an individual’s work and participation in professional and community activities. Particular attention should be given to involvement and contributions to the San Francisco Bay Area Community. Criteria for recipient: Community member in good standing for 5 or fewer years. Nominees should excel in one or more areas:

• Leadership in the community, at meetings, and in committee work.
• Special or notable service to the community, such as participation in special projects.
• Participation in seminars, teaching courses, and public speaking activities.
• Publication or editorial contributions to the professional literature.
• Innovations at the work site.
• Mentoring activities or student sponsorship.
• Extracurricular activities which provide the profession and/or the community with commendable publicity and acclaim.

Award gift: Certificate, possible appropriate gift, and gift certificate to an upcoming community professional development workshop presented at a community meeting.

Previous winners: 2021, Max Rosen; 2017, Grace Kim

5. Quarter Century Club/Lifetime Achievement

Purpose: awarded to a member for an extended and sustained service (25 years or more) to the Association in all spheres of its activities. Frequency: as appropriate. Criteria for recipient: sustained active professional career. Award: certificate and dinner for recipient and a guest at the meeting where award is given, and a small token of appreciation.

Previous winners: 2022, Wess Murdough, 2017, Elyse Eisner; 2014, Deborah Hunt; 2013, George Plosker; 1999, Sue Rugge

6. Business Partner Appreciation (formerly, Vendor Award)

Purpose: to recognize a supporting vendor or donor who has exhibited outstanding, unique or beyond the call of duty service to the community. Criteria for recipient: a vendor receiving this award will have been a financial contributor to the community in support of communications, programs, tours, networking and professional development at least (but not limited to) once per community term in which the award is granted.

Previous winners: 2017, LAC; 2016, Soutron Global; 2014: Mechanics' Institute; 2013, TRAK Records and Library & IEEE & Information Express; 2011, AIM & IEEE; 2007, Information Express

7. Special Project Award 

Purpose: to recognize a member or committee that has exhibited outstanding, unique or beyond the call of duty service to the community. Frequency: as appropriate. Criteria for recipient: completing a special project that benefits the community in unique ways. Award gift: certificate(s) and appropriate gift(s) presented at a community meeting.

Previous winners: 2022, Mimi Calter, Tina Dumas, and Bob Teeter