The Bradwell Institute media department recently received the highest honor for library media programs in the state.
At last week’s 25th annual Georgia Council of Media Organizations conference last week, BI media specialists Nikki Lukkarinen and Melissa McCallar accepted the honor when Bradwell was named the 2013 Georgia Exemplary Library Media Program for the high-school division. Library media programs in only three schools — elementary, middle and high — earned the exemplary designation.
Each year, three exemplary and three exceptional library media programs are honored by the Georgia Library Media Association and the Georgia Library Association. Library media specialists throughout the state, GLMA and GLA select the recipients based on the school’s written application, letters of support, a possible telephone interview and/or an on-site visit. Schools must have been in existence a minimum of three years before applying. Previous recipients of this award may not apply for 10 years after being honored as “exemplary.” Library media programs named “exceptional” may re-apply for the award at any time.
As a part of the recognition, McCallar and Lukkarinen will host a state-wide media-center open house to show off their program and facility. The media specialists also will prepare a presentation on their exemplary program for the annual Georgia Educational Technology Conference in November 2014 in Atlanta.
The media specialists applied after being recognized as the 2013 Liberty County Exemplary Library Media Program.
In a separate presentation, The Georgia Library Media Association also awarded the duo one of two Mabel Wyche Underwood grants to promote e-books at BI. McCallar and Lukkarinen will use the $598.98 award to create and display e-book trailers advertising digital resources available in the media center.