Trustee of the Year Award – Vermont Library Association

The Trustee of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a trustee on behalf of their library, either during the previous year or during their years of service. Nominations may be submitted by any library trustee, library board, librarian, friends group member, or VLA member. Examples include but are not limited to:

seeking legislative action for programs that would benefit libraries throughout the state or region.
leadership to increase the quality of library service.
creating model programs to overcome a major local library problem.
promoting public awareness and building support for the library.
developing adequate physical facilities for a library.

The Trustee of the Year Award was first presented by the Vermont Library Trustees Association (VLTA) in 1967. It was awarded sporadically until 1986, when the award became an annual event. In 1992 VLTA merged with the Vermont Library Association, and VLA has presented the award since that time.

Past Recipients:

2025 – Timmy Bullock, John G. McCullough Free Library, North Bennington
2023 – Beth Wade, Cabot Public Library
2022 – Jean Roberts, Poultney Public Library
2019 – David Martin, Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville
2018 – None awarded
2017 – Harriett Grenier & Margaret Luce, Waterbury Public Library
2016 – None awarded
2015 – Robert Henneberger, Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
2014 – Thomas Twetten, Craftsbury Public Library
2013 – Ruth Botzow, Solomon Wright Public Library, Pownal
2012 – Pat Hunter, Rutland Free Library,
2011 – Board, Morristown Centennial Library (Sue Sargent, chair), Morristown
2011 – Susie Martin, Roger Clark Memorial Library, Pittsfield
2010 – Reeve Lindbergh, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum,
2009 – Tina Rotella, Rutland Free Library,
2008 – Dave Keenan, Cobleigh Public Library, Lyndonville
2007 – Terry Burgee, Kimball Public Library, Randolph
2006 – Kim Cushman, John G. McCullough Free Library, North Bennington
2005 – Angie Chapple-Sokol, Brownell Library, Essex Junction
2004 – Betsy Eckfeldt, Roxbury Free Library
2004 – Donna H. Swartz, Shrewsbury Library
2003 – None awarded
2002 – John Nicholls, Aldrich Public Library, Barre
2002 – Robert Harnish, Maclure Library, Pittsford
2001 – Marcia Devino, Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester
2000 – Beth Merritt, The Charlotte Library
1999 – Phyllis Arata-Meyers, Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock
1998 – Ann Hazelrigg, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston
1997 – None awarded
1996 – Robert Ashcroft, Rockingham Free Public Library
1995 – Margaret Miner, South Burlington Community Library
1994 – None awarded
1993 – Joan Wise, Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington
1992 – Barbara Mieder, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston
1991 – Jean Conklin, Norman Williams Public Library, Woodstock
1990 – Ralph Secord, Cobleigh Library, Lyndonville
1989 – Deborah Thomas, Alden Balch Memorial Library, Lunenburg
1988 – Fred Moeller, Bennington Free Library (a long time friend of that library), Bennington
1987 – Polly Quinn, Sarah Carpenter Memorial Library, Hinesburg
1986 – Susan Tillotson, Annette Clowes and Carleen Musick, Brigham Free Library, Bakersfield
1983-1985 – None awarded
1982 – Jay W. Hawthorne, Aldrich Public Library, Barre
1980-1981 – None awarded
1979 – John McDill, Norman Williams Library, Woodstock
1976-1978 – None awarded
1975 – Mary Fell, Underhill; and others
1971-1974 – None awarded
1970 – Carlotta Raine, Brownell Library, Essex Junction
1968-1969 – None awarded
1967 – James H. Laubach, Jr., Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro

Page last updated June 22, 2025 (sl)