Each year the British Columbia Library Association invites the library community, partners, and stakeholders to nominate individuals and organizations for awards recognizing outstanding work in libraries throughout the province. Winners receive a parchment certificate and BCLA makes a $100 donation in their name to the charity of their choice (any non-profit or charity, including their library).
This year the awards were presented during the Awards Lunch at the 2026 BC Library Conference. Please join us in congratulating the winners!
BCLA Building Better Communities Award: Sarah Green & Barbara Reid
This award is for an individual or organization responsible for increasing the relevancy and impact of library service through partnership, collaboration, and building trust where little had previously existed. This year’s recipients are Sarah Green and Barbara Reid for the pilot partnership they did in 2025 at the Britannia Branch of the Vancouver Public Library with the REACH Community Health Centre, connecting community members with vital support such as housing, income assistance, and dental care.
BC Academic Libraries Section (BCALS) Outstanding Contribution Award: Carla Graebner
This award recognizes to an individual who works in an academic library (or team of academic library personnel) whose professional achievements have made a real difference to students, faculty, or colleagues in British Columbia. This year’s recipient is Carla Graebner for her many contributions to academic librarianship, particularly her leadership of GovInfo Day.
BCCATS J. McRee Elrod Leadership Award: Tamarack Hockin
This award recognizes an individual or unit working in technical services that has demonstrated excellence and/or made a difference to users and colleagues in British Columbia in the area of technical services. This year’s recipient is Tamarack Hockin for her many contributions to the BC technical services community as a leader, connector, and champion of their important work.
BCLA Honourary Life Memberships: Christine Middlemass & Todd Mundle
Honorary Life Memberships are conferred upon members of the Association at or within five years of normal retirement age who the have made substantial and recognizable long-standing contributions to BCLA and to library service in the province. This year BCLA Life Memberships were presented to Christine Middlemass and Todd Mundle, who have both given generously of their time, energy, and care to BCLA and the BC library community throughout their careers.
Congratulations to the award winners and all of the excellent nominees, whose collective contributions demonstrate the meaningful, creative, and important work happening in libraries throughout BC.
More information about the BCLA Awards can be found on the BCLA Website.