- TLA Awards & Scholarships
- Librarian of the Year
- Distinguished Service
- Lifetime Achievement
- Outstanding Services to Libraries
- Wayne Williams Library Project of the Year
- Libraries Change Communities Award
- Benefactor Award
- Branding Iron Awards
- Sam G. Whitten Intellectual Freedom Award
- Demco/Upstart Innovative Programming Award
- Texas Library Champions
- TLA Scholarships
- Unit Awards & Scholarships
- Ashley Bryan Award
- Distinguished Service – School Administrators Award
- Shirley Igo Award
- Media Virtual Presence Award
- Texas Youth Creators Award
- Library Instruction Project of the Year
- Siddie Joe Johnson Award
- Outstanding Service in Library Instruction
- Small Community Librarian Award
- Small Community Library Advocate Award
- Jack Alton Strawn Standing TALL Award
- TASL Library Information School Scholarship
- Young Adult Reading Incentive Award
- Stipends
- Grants
Siddie Joe Johnson Award
Honoring outstanding achievement in children's library service.
- Ashley Bryan Award
- Distinguished Service – School Administrators Award
- Shirley Igo Award
- Media Virtual Presence Award
- Texas Youth Creators Award
- Library Instruction Project of the Year
- Siddie Joe Johnson Award
- Outstanding Service in Library Instruction
- Small Community Librarian Award
- Small Community Library Advocate Award
- Jack Alton Strawn Standing TALL Award
- TASL Library Information School Scholarship
- Young Adult Reading Incentive Award
Congratulations to Cheryl Hensley, librarian at Lockhart Elementary in Houston ISD,
recipient of the 2023 Siddie Joe Johnson Award!
Cheryl is a beloved & proud librarian in Houston ISD; moving this year to Lockhart Elementary to start up a library program after serving the scholars over the last 27 years at MacGregor Elementary. Over her long and dedicated 38-year career in education, Cheryl has volunteered on various committees through TLA and is a leader and mentor for librarians in HISD. She received the honor of Librarian of the Year for Houston ISD in 2013 and continues to serve on the committee to uplift and recognize colleagues for the prestigious award. Students, teachers, parents, and colleagues all sing the highest praises for Ms. Hensley, and she is very deserving of the 2023 Siddie Joe Johnson Award!
The Siddie Joe Johnson Award (SJJ) is presented to a public or school librarian to recognize outstanding achievement in children’s library service.
The SJJ Award was named in honor of Siddie Joe Johnson, who served as children’s librarian and coordinator of children’s services for the Dallas Public Library for twenty-seven years. Ms. Johnson, a published poet and author, was the recipient of awards from the Poetry Society of Texas, the Texas Institute of Letters, and the American Library Association for her work in children’s library service.
2024 Siddie Joe Johnson NOMINATION FORM
Nominees are evaluated on the basis of outstanding or innovative programs, a sustained high level of performance, leadership ability, involvement in professional organizations, community involvement, and cooperation with parents and other libraries, especially outside their own system.
To qualify for the SJJ award, a nominee must:
- Be a Texas librarian holding a master’s degree in Library and/or Information Science. School librarians must also hold a School Librarian Certificate to be considered for this award.
- Be a member of the Children’s Round Table.
- Work directly with children from preschool to eighth grade within the last 12 months.
- Have a minimum of 7 years of experience working in Texas libraries.
- Be nominated by a peer or colleague (not accepting self-nominations).
Applications will remain active for two years provided the nominee remains eligible based on the above criteria.
Nominations open in September and close in January each year. Look for announcements on TLA Engage with the link to nominate a colleague!
2024 Siddie Joe Johnson NOMINATION FORM
Previous Winners |
Recipient Name |
Institution |
|
2023 | Cheryl Hensley | Houston ISD | |
2022 | Melanie Scales | Waller ISD | |
2021 | Kristen Fournier | Round Rock ISD | |
2020 | Karen Stanley | Rosenberg Library | |
2019 | Kristan Neeb | Wichita Falls ISD | |
2018 | Melisa (Lisa) O’Rear | Denton ISD | |
2017 | Kathleen Grupe | Birdville ISD | |
2016 | Maria Rodriguez | Dallas ISD | |
2015 | Carol Richmond | Denton ISD | |
2014 | Rose Little-Brock | Irving ISD | |
2013 | Carol Richmond | Denton ISD | |
2012 | Kristi Betts | Irving ISD | |
2011 | Tina Hager | ||
2010 | |||
2009 | Jacqueline Bridges-Sheppherd | Arlington ISD | |
2008 | Vicki Ash | San Antonio Public Library | |
2007 | Debra H. Marshall | Coppell ISD | |
2006 | Karen R. Kessel | Irving ISD | |
2005 | Sue McGown | St. John’s Lower School | |
2004 | Susan King | George Mem Library | |
2003 | Caro Ann Germann | The Kinkaid School | |
2002 | Jeanette Larson | Austin Public Library | |
2001 | Lea Bailey | Irving ISD | |
2000 | Lisa Coker | Sterling Municipal Library | |
1999 | Cyd Sheffy | Fort Worth ISD | |
1998 | Susan Allison | Richardson Public Library | |
1997 | Rose Trevino | Houston Public Library | |
1996 | Kathy Toon | (out of state) | |
1995 | Martha Edmundson | Denton Public Library | |
1994 | Susan Sanders | Austin ISD | |
1993 | Valerie Childress | (retired) | |
1992 | Molly Krukewitt | (retired) | |
1991 | Sandra Bennett | Irving ISD | |
1990 | Ramona Kerby | (out of state) | |
1989 | Judy Thomas | Abilene ISD | |
1988 | Muriel Brown | (retired) | |
1987 | Julie Judd Pankey | Irving Public Library | |
1986 | Grace Schmidt | ||
1985 | Betty Hatcher | ||
1982 | Zinita Fowler | ||
1979 | Elizabeth Ulrich | (retired) |
Latest News
View all NewsBetween the Lines: September Member Spotlight
Kimberly M. Gay, M.L.S. Head of Reference and Information Services Department; Academic Reference and Instruction Librarian II John B. Coleman Library, Prairie View A&M University What inspired you to become […]
Read MoreStaff spotlight: Joanna Franco
In each TLA Staff Spotlight, we highlight a different Texas Library Association staff member. It’s part of our effort to make sure you know who the TLA staff is, so […]
Read More