<div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px;padding:0px;font-size:10pt"><font face="arial, sans-serif">The 2026 Library Directory Associates Award (<span class="gmail-il" style="">LDA</span>) nominations are now open!</font></p><div id="m_-5128296365344026882SafeStyles1737990368" style=""><div dir="ltr" style=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;padding:0px;line-height:13.91px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;padding:0px;line-height:13.91px"><span style="line-height:13.91px;color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">The <span class="gmail-il">LDA</span> Award provides recognition to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to libraries on Long Island. By honoring the winner, we honor all the people who contribute to the profession. The <span class="gmail-il">LDA</span> Award will be presented at the Long Island Library Conference on Thursday, May 14, 2026. </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Please note the following eligibility criteria:</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 51pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">Librarians, trustees, support staff, friends of the library, vendors and publishers are all eligible</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 51pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">Nominees should have the following:</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 102pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">Outstanding achievement in developing and publishing library materials</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 102pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">A long and distinguished service in the advancement of librarianship</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 102pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">An original contribution for promoting the library</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 102pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">Progressive legislative activity</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 102pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">Promotion of intellectual freedom</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 102pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)">§<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">  </span></span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">Creative, innovative utilization of technologies</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 102pt;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">All of the information for how to submit an individual can be found in the attached brochure. All completed nominations must be emailed </span><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)"><span style="border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in">in a single PDF to <a href="mailto:ldalibraryaward@gmail.com" target="_blank">ldalibraryaward@gmail.com</a> with the subject line: LDA Award Nomination Packet 2026. </span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><strong>Please submit all nomination materials by Friday, March 27, 2026. </strong>Additional information is provided in the attached brochure. </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email us at <a href="mailto:ldalibraryaward@gmail.com" target="_blank">ldalibraryaward@gmail.com</a>. </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"> </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Thank you,</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Liz Hughes</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Head of Information Services</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64);border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Elwood Public Library</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)"><font face="arial, sans-serif">1929 Jericho Turnpike</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)"><font face="arial, sans-serif">Elwood, NY 11731</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)"><font face="arial, sans-serif">631-499-3722</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;padding:0px;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="color:rgb(64,64,64)"><a href="mailto:ehughes@elwoodlibrary.org" target="_blank" style=""><font face="arial, sans-serif">ehughes@elwoodlibrary.org</font></a></span></p></div></div></div>