Past Recipients
Honorary Life Membership
Pat Williams Intellectual Freedom
Interest Group Excellence
Cates Librarian of the Year
Library of the Year
Library Program of the Year
Media Award
School Administrator of the Year
Special Friend to Libraries
Trustee of the Year
Legislator of the Year
Outstanding Support Staff
Other Awards
Honorary Life Membership
| 2020 |
Debbi Kramer |
Laurel |
| 2017 |
Marilyn Trosper |
Polson |
| 2013 |
Dale Alger |
Roundup |
| 2012 |
Darlene Staffeldt |
Helena |
| 2011 |
Peggy Smith |
Billings |
| 2010 |
Jane Howell |
Billings |
| 2008 |
Andrine Haas |
Glendive |
| 2007 |
Deanna King |
Columbus |
| 2005 |
Karen Strege |
Helena |
| 2003 |
Dennis Richards |
Missoula |
| 2002 |
Mary Bushing |
Bozeman |
| 2001 |
Debbie Schlesinger |
Helena |
| 2000 |
Shirlee B. Smith |
Havre |
| 1997 |
Susan Nissen Lerdal |
Butte |
| 1996 |
Delores Drennen |
Miles City |
| 1995 |
Al Randall |
Libby |
| 1988 |
E. Al Blockey |
Bozeman |
| 1988 |
Edna Berg |
Bozeman |
| 1988 |
Glenda Bell |
Billings |
| 1987 |
Katherine Schaefer |
Missoula |
| 1986 |
Alene Cooper |
Helena |
| 1985 |
Muriel Cooksey |
Miles City |
| 1983 |
Mary Schmiedskamp |
Billings |
| 1983 |
Virginia Schulte |
Glendive |
| 1982 |
Alma Jacobs |
Helena |
| 1982 |
Douglas Mills |
Missoula |
| 1980 |
Beatrice Eigher |
Great Falls |
| 1980 |
Helen Anderson |
Fort Benton |
| 1978 |
Adeline Midgett |
Missoula |
| 1978 |
Kay Griffith |
Missoula |
| 1978 |
Lucille Anderson |
Hamilton |
| 1978 |
Mabel Brewer |
Kalispell |
| 1978 |
Marie MacDonald |
Glendive |
| 1977 |
Doris Mart |
Jordan |
| 1975 |
Virginia Weisel Johnson |
Missoula |
| 1970 |
Elizabeth Pittman |
Lewistown |
| 1970 |
Mable Engelter |
Whitefish |
| 1970 |
Perl Coombs |
Glendive |
| 1969 |
Lesley Muriel Heathcote |
Missoula |
Pat Williams Intellectual Freedom Award (Name change in 1996)
| 2020 |
Library Director, Connie Behe |
ImagineIF Library |
| 2018 |
Library Director, Mark Wetherington |
Bitterroot Public Library Board of Trustees |
| 2017 |
Library Director Wendy Campbell |
Darby Community Public Library Board and Staff |
| 2016 |
Daniel Zolnikov, HD 47 |
Billings |
| 2015 |
Livingston School District #1 Librarians and Board of Trustees |
Livingston |
| 2014 |
Billings School District Board of Trustees and High School Librarians |
Billings |
| 2013 |
Karen Gonzales |
Missoula |
| 2012 |
Amy Collins |
Geraldine |
| 2011 |
Niki Whearty |
Helena |
| 2009 |
Judy Hart and the Lewis and Clark Library Board of Directors |
Helena |
| 2008 |
Diane Thompson |
Boulder |
| 2007 |
Johanna Freivalds |
Billings |
| 2006 |
Jim Eliott (Senate District 7 – Democrat) |
Trout Creek |
| 2006 |
Jim Shockley (Senate District 45 – Republican) |
Victor |
| 2006 |
Governor Brian Schweitzer |
Helena |
| 2005 |
Helena School District No. 1 |
Helena |
| 2004 |
Helena Education Foundation |
Helena |
| 2003 |
Suzanne Goodman |
Livingston |
| 2001 |
Bozeman High School |
Bozeman |
| 2001 |
Great Falls High School |
Great Falls |
| 1997 |
John Frohnmayer |
Bozeman |
| 1996 |
Jim Heckel |
Great Falls |
| 1995 |
Representative Deb Kottel |
Great Falls |
| 1995 |
Representative John Bollinger |
Billings |
| 1995 |
Senator Mike Halligan |
Missoula |
| 1994 |
Debbie Denzer |
Kalispell |
| 1993 |
Lewis and Clark Library Board of Trustees, (Wendy Wheeler, Chair, Mary Sheehy Moe, Bernard Grainey, Sue O’Connell, Bob Cooper) |
Helena |
| 1991 |
Representative Pat Williams |
Washington, D.C. |
| 1984 |
Janis Bruwelheide, |
Bozeman |
Interest Group Excellence Award
| 2005 |
OFFLINE |
|
| 2004 |
Paraprofessional Interest Group |
|
| 1993 |
Marianne Farr – Interlibrary Loan Interest Group |
|
Sheila Cates Award for Librarian of the Year
| 2021 |
Janelle Zauha |
Montana State University |
| 2020 |
Cindy Christin |
Bozeman Public Library |
| 2018 |
Gale Bacon |
Belgrade Community Library |
| 2017 |
Paulette K Parpart |
Missoula Public Library |
| 2016 |
Dale Alger |
Roundup Community School Library |
| 2015 |
Judy Hart |
Lewis & Clark Library |
| 2014 |
Cheryl Heser |
Rosebud Co. Library |
| 2013 |
Honore Bray |
Missoula Public Library |
| 2012 |
Renee Goss |
Sidney-Richland Co. Library |
| 2011 |
Marilyn Trosper |
North Valley Co. Public Library District |
| 2010 |
Alice Meister |
Bozeman Public Library |
| 2009 |
Vaun Stevens |
Missoula Public Library |
| 2008 |
Sue Jackson |
Montana State Library |
| 2007 |
Norma Glock |
Columbus School Library |
| 2006 |
Gloria Curdy |
Missoula Co. Public Schools |
| 2005 |
Carole Monlux |
Paxson Elementary Library — Missoula |
| 2004 |
Gene Marie Robson |
Billings Public Library |
| 2003 |
Al Randall |
Libby |
| 2002 |
Bette Ammon |
Missoula Public Library |
| 2001 |
Mary Bushing |
MSU — Bozeman |
| 2000 |
Karen Driessen |
University of Montana |
| 1999 |
Darlene Staffeldt |
Montana State Library |
| 1998 |
Bill Cochran |
Billings Public Library |
| 1997 |
Vicki Terbovich |
Montana State Library |
| 1996 |
Brandy Howey |
Hinsdale Public Schools |
| 1995 |
Bruce Newell |
Lewis & Clark Library |
| 1994 |
Bonnie Williamson |
Havre-Hill Co. Public Library |
| 1993 |
Sheila Cates |
Montana State Library |
| 1992 |
Greta Chapman |
Lincoln Co. Libraries |
| 1969 |
Lesley Heathcote
(presented by the National Library Week Committee for Montana) |
Missoula |
| 1968 |
Alma Jacobs
(presented by the National Library Week Committee for Montana) |
Great Falls Public Library |
Library of the Year Award
| 2018 |
Montana State University Library, Bozeman |
|
| 2017 |
Thompson-Hickman Madison County Library |
|
| 2015 |
ImagineIf Libraries |
|
| 2014 |
Billings Public Library |
|
| 2012 |
Sidney-Richland County Library |
|
| 2011 |
Belgrade Community Library |
|
| 2006 |
Partner Libraries: Missoula Public Library, Flathead County Library System, Hearst Free Library, Bitterroot Public Library, Drummond School/Community Library, and Polson City Library. |
|
| 2005 |
Darby Community Public Library |
|
| 2003 |
Montana State University – Bozeman, Bozeman |
|
| 2002 |
Thompson Falls Public Library |
|
| 2001 |
Montana State Law Library |
|
| 1999 |
RiCoNet Consortium, Richland County |
|
| 1998 |
Havre-Hill County Library, Havre |
(Bonnie Williamson, Director) |
| 1997 |
Lucy Carson Library at Western Montana College of the University of Montana, Dillon |
(Michael Schulz, Director) |
| 1996 |
Broadwater School and Community Library, Townsend |
(Cindy Hangas, Director) |
| 1994 |
Parmly Billings Library |
(Bill Cochran, Director) |
| 1993 |
Missoula Public Library |
(David Pauli, Director) |
| 1992 |
Lewistown Public Library |
(Florence Kettering, Director) |
Media Award
| 2012 |
Sara Groves, Montana State Library |
|
| 2008 |
Montana’s Book Babes Calendar, Lisa Mecklenberg-Jackson and models |
|
| 2007 |
Jim Dullenty |
Lewistown |
| 2006 |
State and national promotional campaign, “What’s Your Story? Find It At the Library.”: Montana State Library’s Marketing Coordinator, Sara Groves; the Q Group; The Montana Library Association; Mountain West Bank; AARP; The Institute of Museum and Library Services, a Library Services and Technology Act Grant; and the National Library of Medicine |
|
| 2004 |
Missoula Reads |
|
| 2003 |
Marcia Dunn |
Missoula |
| 2002 |
Cherie Heser |
|
| 2002 |
Nancy Brennan |
|
| 1995 |
Missoula Public Library |
|
| 1995 |
Parmly Billings Library |
|
School Administrator of the Year Award
| 2017 |
Jeff Bermes |
Columbus |
| 2016 |
Steve Pomroy, Lewis and Clark Middle School |
Billings |
| 2013 |
Frenchtown Administration Team – Randy Cline, Cindy Worrall, Mark McMurray |
Frenchtown |
| 2011 |
Bob Whalen |
Billings |
| 2010 |
Eileen Johnson |
Lockwood |
| 2006 |
Dr. Peggy Anderson |
Frenchtown |
| 2005 |
Dennis Parman |
Havre |
| 2004 |
Bob Gutzman |
Bozeman |
| 2002 |
Michael Bowman |
|
| 2001 |
Rhonda M. Boyd |
Billings Schoold District #2 |
| 1997 |
Ken Stuker |
Helena High School |
| 1996 |
Bill Olson |
Libby Public Schools |
| 1995 |
Dave Sharstrom |
Lewistown |
| 1994 |
Robert Klein and Bruce Thomas |
Clancy |
| 1993 |
David Parker |
Bonner |
| 1992 |
John Morris |
Whitefish |
| 1991 |
Joseph Stauduhar |
Missoula |
| 1990 |
William Cooper |
Kalispell |
| 1989 |
Gary Rogers |
Billings |
| 1988 |
Don Wetzel |
Corvallis |
| 1986 |
Bill Vogt |
Kalispell |
| 1985 |
William Donahue |
Superior |
| 1984 |
Pete Carparelli |
Helena |
| 1983 |
Tim Sullivan |
Butte |
| 1982 |
Jean Miller Hagan |
Red Lodge |
| 1981 |
John Johnson |
Glendive |
| 1980 |
Geneva Van Horne |
Missoula |
| 1979 |
John Dracon |
Billings |
| 1978 |
Bernard Hartman |
Helena |
| 1977 |
Peggy Gadbow |
Missoula |
| 1976 |
Richard Rate |
Fort Benton |
| 1975 |
Kenneth Swenson |
Bozeman |
| 1974 |
Michael F. O’Leary |
Anaconda |
| 1973 |
Peter C. Bakken |
Glendive |
| 1972 |
A. G. Erickson |
Helena |
| 1971 |
Hiney P. Lund |
Bozeman |
| 1969 |
Noel Rigby |
Billings |
| 1968 |
William J. Hoppes |
Inverness |
| 1967 |
Leonard A. Wollan |
Laurel |
| 1966 |
C. Robert Engebretson |
Libby |
Special Friend to Libraries Award
| 2017 |
Bruce L. Ennis and Margaret S. Davis |
ImagineIf Libraries |
| 2015 |
Sarah Polich |
Rosebud County Library |
| 2014 |
Billings Public Library Foundation |
Billings |
| 2013 |
Jim & Patty McDonald |
Missoula |
| 2012 |
Ellen Rae Thiel |
Boulder |
| 2010 |
Dorothy (Dot) Gallager |
Stillwater County Library |
| 2010 |
Doug Kramer |
Three Forks Community Library |
| 2008 |
Humanities Montana – Mark Sherouse, Executive Director |
Helena |
| 2008 |
Ted Almgren |
Darby Community Library |
| 2007 |
Julie Enman |
Drummond |
| 2006 |
Beverly Helrich |
Stevensville |
| 2005 |
Kathleen Ralph |
Stillwater County Library |
| 2004 |
Chrysti Smith |
Bozeman |
| 2003 |
Marsha Dunn |
Missoula |
| 2002 |
Laura Newman |
Butte |
| 2001 |
Mary Hadspeth |
Libby |
| 2000 |
Billie Haag |
Glendive Public Library |
| 2000 |
Abe Abramson |
Missoula Public Library |
| 2000 |
Forsyth Woman’s Club |
Forsyth |
| 1997 |
Jon Willette |
Billings |
| 1997 |
Barbara VaDePete |
Havre |
| 1996 |
Bob Cooper |
Helena |
| 1996 |
Ed Mahlum & Greg Maroney |
Kalispell |
| 1996 |
U.S. Representative Pat Williams |
|
| 1995 |
Wendy’s of Montana (Sam E. McDonald, Jr. Family) |
Billings |
| 1995 |
Linda Halstead-Acharya |
Columbus |
| 1994 |
Montana Power Company |
Butte |
| 1994 |
Senator Henry McClernan |
Butte |
| 1993 |
Fred Dion |
Glendive |
| 1993 |
Alberta Bair |
White Sulphur Springs |
| 1991 |
Royal Johnson |
Billings |
| 1988 |
Connie Voth |
Ronan |
| 1988 |
Peggy Munoz |
Hamilton |
| 1985 |
Lawrence McCarthy |
Plains |
Jane Lopp Trustee of Year (Name change, June 2017)
| 2021 |
Al Logan |
ImagineIF Libraries |
| 2018 |
Rita Henkel |
Missoula Public Library |
| 2016 |
Kerstin Clark |
Twin Bridges Public Library |
| 2015 |
Janet Doornbos |
Thompson-Hickman Madison County Library |
| 2014 |
Sandi Conrady |
Helena |
| 2013 |
Flathead Co. Library Board of Trustees – Connie Leistiko, Jane Lopp, Michael Morton, Al Logan, Elana Weaver |
Kalispell |
| 2011 |
Albert Martens |
Rosebud |
| 2010 |
Chrysti Smith |
Belgrade |
| 2008 |
Lloyd Mickelson |
Billings |
| 2007 |
Tom Heyes |
West Yellowstone |
| 2006 |
Jerry (J.B.) Bancroft |
Bozeman |
| 2005 |
Janel Tindall |
Belgrade |
| 2004 |
Brenda Davis |
Bozeman |
| 2001 |
Ron Farmer |
Bozeman |
| 1999 |
Jo Alice Juedeman |
Geraldine |
| 1998 |
Eleanor Gray |
Miles City |
| 1997 |
Stephen C. Owens |
Deer Lodge |
| 1997 |
William T. Paull |
Deer Lodge |
| 1993 |
Ann Boettcher |
Big Sandy |
| 1992 |
Jim Nybo |
Helena |
| 1991 |
George James |
Libby |
| 1990 |
Janet Stevenson |
Hardin |
| 1989 |
Eugenia Williams |
Laurel |
| 1988 |
Lawrence Johnson |
Hamilton |
| 1987 |
Betty Fleschig |
Havre |
| 1985 |
Lawrence Maxwell |
Butte |
| 1984 |
Jean Koppang |
Great Falls |
| 1983 |
Esther Leibrand Ames |
Scobey |
| 1982 |
Virginia Manix |
Augusta |
| 1981 |
Sylvia Johnson |
Lewistown |
| 1980 |
Henry McClernan |
Butte |
| 1979 |
John Parker |
Bozeman |
| 1978 |
Mrs. Claude Jones |
Miles City |
| 1977 |
John Tangmoe |
Glendive |
| 1976 |
John Stephens |
Chinook |
| 1975 |
Glenda Bell |
Bridger |
| 1973 |
Jean R. Robinson |
Missoula |
| 1973 |
Marjorie W. King |
Winnett |
| 1970 |
Dorothy Floerchinger |
Conrad |
| 1969 |
William Henry Bertsche |
Great Falls |
| 1968 |
Mrs. H. D. Harlowe |
Miles City |
| 1967 |
Don Gibson |
Glendive |
| 1966 |
Mrs. C. G. Johnson |
Plains |
| 1965 |
Mrs. R. D. Warden |
Great Falls |
Library Program of the Year
| 2021 |
Bilingual Storytime with ASL-CAN |
Rae McFadden, Great Falls Public Library |
MLA Champion Award
| 2018 |
Ann Ewbank |
Bozeman |
| 2018 |
Sara Groves |
Helena |
| 2017 |
Representative Frank Garner |
Kalispell |
| 2014 |
Representative Joe Tropila |
Great Falls |
| 2013 |
Senator Brad Hamlett |
Cascade |
| 2013 |
Representative Bob Mehlhoff |
Great Falls |
| 2013 |
Representative Christy Clark |
Augusta |
| 1999 |
Shiell Anderson |
Livingston |
| 1997 |
Linda McCulloch |
Missoula |
| 1997 |
Ray Peck |
Havre |
Outstanding Support Staff
| 2021 |
Mary Guthmiller |
Montana State University |
| 2018 |
Marlys Stark |
Montana State Library |
| 2017 |
Tony Edmundson |
Columbia Falls |
| 2016 |
Aaron LaFromboise |
Browning |
| 2015 |
Carol Jestrab |
MSU-Billings Library |
| 2014 |
Annie Alger |
Missoula Public Library |
| 2013 |
Patricia McKenzie |
University of Montana, Missoula |
| 2012 |
Linda Steffas |
Whitehall |
| 2011 |
Amy Ling |
North Valley |
Other Awards
| 2016 |
Glacier High School, Lisa Lykins and Kerrie More |
School Library Information & Technology Program of the Year |
| 2014 |
Kacee Krob |
Gallatin Gateway School |
| 2013 |
Niki Evans & Karen Anderson |
Frenchtown Elem/Interm School Library |
| 2012 |
Lynn McKinney |
School Library Media Award |
| 2007 |
Brian Close |
Intellectual Freedom Award of Appreciation |
| 2005 |
Dale Alger – Montana Heritage Project |
Distinguished Librarian of the Year |
| 1999 |
Lois Fitzpatrick – Helena |
Special Recognition |
| 1999 |
John Thomas – Helena |
Special Recognition |
| 1999 |
Dee Ann Redman – Billings |
Special Recognition |
| 1994 |
Mary Lyn Reitz – Great Falls |
School Librarian of the Year |
| 1987 |
Inez Herrig – Libby |
Distinguished Service Award |
| 1986 |
Peggy Gadbow – Missoula |
Certificate of Appreciation |
| 1980 |
Millie Sullivan |
|
| 1980 |
Alve Thomas |
|
| 1978 |
Rita Nelson |
Exemplary Service |
| 1977 |
Doris Wilson |
|
| 1972 |
Delores Colburg |
|
| 1968 |
Harriet Evelyn Miller – Helena |
Distinguished Library Service Award |
