In order to be considered for the award, all of the following criteria must be met:

• Be a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information or its predecessors (e.g. Faculty of Information Studies (FIS), FLIS, FLS, SLIS, etc.)
• Have not received the same award in the past
• Have been accepted into one of the following designated library leadership programs:
  • Northern Exposure to Leadership 
  • Association of Research Libraries Leadership Fellows Program
  • Public Library Leaders Program 
  • Advancing Public Library Leaders Institute   OR
  • Any other similarly focused library leadership program

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee receiving the award. The Committee reserves the right to not confer the award if submissions lack sufficient overall merit.

Selection will be made by the FIAA Grants and Awards Committee via a blind review process based on the following criteria:

• Quality of statement explaining how participation in the library leadership program would help build the applicant’s leadership capacity in the broader profession as well as benefit their career path
• Quality of applicant’s supporting documents

Preference will be given to:

• Applicants pursuing leadership roles in public librarianship
• Applicants who are receiving limited/no funding from other sources

All applicants will be notified of the results of their application by email.

Please submit one application package containing the following items:

• A completed online application form (accessible through the link below)
• A written statement (maximum 2 pages) clearly explaining how participation in the program would help build your leadership capacity in the broader profession as well as benefit your career path
• A current resume or CV
• A letter of recommendation from your employer. The letter should address your leadership potential as well as demonstrated interest in moving into higher levels of library leadership or administration
• Proof of acceptance into the leadership program

If you have any questions, please contact Erin Calhoun (Chair, FIAA Grants & Awards Committee) erin.calhoun@utoronto.ca

Application deadline: Friday, April 11, 2025

To nominate an individual, please submit the following:

●      A completed online nomination form (accessible via button below).

●      Nominator’s letter (2-page maximum) explaining why the nominee should be selected to receive the FIAA Outstanding Alumni / Student Contribution Award. Please address the nominee’s achievements as well as how s/he meets the award criteria outlined above

●      A biographical sketch of the Nominee (2-page maximum) or his/her resume or curriculum vitae. Please include information such as past awards and honours, membership and/or leadership roles in professional and/or campus organisations, relevant volunteer experience, etc.

●      A letter of support from an individual other than the Nominator. The nomination package can include more than 1 letter, up to a maximum of 3 letters.

If you have any questions, please contact Erin Calhoun (Chair, FIAA Grants & Awards Committee) erin.calhoun@utoronto.ca

Deadline to submit: Friday, April 11, 2025

Adapted from Alumni Award Guidelines of the School of Information Management, Dalhousie University, as approved by the FIAA executive on February 18, 2010. (amended January 2014)

1. Purpose

Each year, the Faculty of Information Alumni Association (FIAA) honours a distinguished graduate of the Faculty (and its predecessors) who has made significant contributions in innovation and/or leadership in libraries, archives, museums or information management, professional organizations, publications/research, or the community at large.

2. Criteria

Recipients have characteristics that make them an innovator, leader, mentor, researcher, or a catalyst, an alumnus/ae who has made a significant contribution to the profession.

3. Eligibility

i) A member of the Alumni Association with all rights of full membership (any person who has received a Master of Information Studies, or Master of Library Science or Master of Library and Information Studies [MLIS] degree or Bachelor of Library Science degree from the University of Toronto).

ii) The Award may not be given posthumously. However, in the event that a nominee dies after having been nominated for the FIAA Outstanding Alumni Award, the nomination may be considered in the selection process.

iii) The Award will not be given more than once to the same person.

4. Nomination/Selection Procedures

Nominations for the Award shall be solicited through advertisements posted in the Faculty of Information Alumni E-newsletter, Informed, various library / archives / information system list servs, the Faculty of Information website, FIAA social media groups, Feliciter (CLA journal), and through any other means deemed appropriate by the Selection Committee.

i) All nominations must be submitted in writing and must include the following: a completed online nomination form; a letter by the nominator addressing why nominee should receive the award; a biographical sketch (or resume/curriculum vitae) of the nominee; and a letter of support by an individual other than the nominator.

ii) All nominations must be submitted by April 11, 2025.

iii) Nominations of persons previously nominated but not chosen may be resubmitted.

v) If, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, a sufficiently worthy candidate has not been nominated, the Committee may recommend to the Executive of the Faculty of Information Alumni Association that the Award not be issued in that year.

5. Selection Committee

i) The Selection Committee is a task group of the Grants and Awards Committee of FIAA.

ii) The Selection Committee will notify each nominee soon after having received the nomination to confirm that he/she is willing to be considered as a candidate for the Alumni Award.

iii) The Selection Committee will evaluate and choose the Award recipient from among the nominations received and submit its recommendation in writing by April 30th of each year to the Executive of FIAA.

iv) The Executive of FIAA are responsible for notifying the recipient, all nominees, and the Faculty, and for publicizing the name of the Award winner in the list of above locations and other publications of information management and related professional organizations.

6. Award

i) The Award shall consist of: an individual plaque inscribed with the name of the Award, recipient’s name and Award year to be given to the winner;

ii) Normally only one Award will be made in a given year.

iii) The Award shall be presented by the President of the Faculty of Information Alumni Association at the annual Alumni Reception in the year the Award is given.