The Australian School Library Association (ASLA) is honoured to announce the winner of the ASLA Citation Award for 2001 and to commend and give recognition of services rendered to the profession.

This citation is given for outstanding leadership in promoting and developing teacher librarianship in one or more of the following fields:

• Policy formation
• Program implementation
• Publications
• Administration of the Association
• Research
• Innovation
• Education

The recipient for 2001 was deemed outstanding in six of the seven fields and her work and dedication has had, and will continue to have, far reaching positive consequences for the state of teacher librarianship across Australia.

Referees comments include:

“From the time she first took on the role of ASLA Councillor it was evident that she had the vision, dedication, drive, enthusiasm and attention to detail to be a future leader of the Association and Teacher Librarians.”

“Karen is a rare individual. She has been endowed with a wide range of skills and aptitudes with a strong people orientation. At the same time she is task orientated and able to drive a set of goals, both personal and professional. She has developed the problem solving and team building skills that underpin her leadership. More than that, she is a person of achievable vision and she has demonstrated the capacity to sell her visions.”

“Karen’s reputation in the field of teacher-librarianship reaches beyond state and national levels as her publications and international conference presentations have provided her with forums to advance ideas and open up debate and discussion on issues relevant to the field.”

Testimonial support documents.

Karen Bonanno has received this award in recognition of her services in:

• Policy formulation of the ASLA policy statements co-jointly with Lyn Rushby and for the development of the ASLA website.
• Program implementation including Project Officer for the production of the professional development video, Steps to Success: Information Literacy; Project Officer for the development of an in-service and promotional package on the EdNA Directory Service for teacher librarians in the primary and secondary sector – EdNA Train-the-trainer manual; Project Officer for the development of an CD-ROM, Teaching Information Skills.
• Publication including co-editor with James Henri for The Information Literate School Community: Best Practice, numerous articles for Access, publication of the SLAQ Newsletter, conference papers – ISIS, national ASLA conferences, IASL and resources on her own website.
• Administration of the Association including Past President, President and Vice President between 1994 and 2000 and the many associated duties she performed to an exemplary standard whilst in these positions.
• Innovation is reflected in the numerous projects listed and including the establishment and development of the ASLA website and involvement in the development of ASLA virtual rooms in LC_MOO to provide a virtual meeting place for members.
• Education includes the presentation of professional development for member associations on such topics as: information literacy, use of the CD-ROM Teaching Information Skills, delivery of EdNA Train-the-trainer manual, personal and professional profile, Project Parent, teambuilding, integration of learning technologies into the curriculum; as a Facilitator for Queensland University of Technology review (1997) for Teacher Librarianship course and current involvement in the Reference Group for QUT TL course development.

Presentation of this award is a valued opportunity for her peers and colleagues to be able to acknowledge her depth and range of commitment to the profession and it is with honour that we bestow the ASLA Citation Award to Karen Bonanno, a fitting tribute to a very deserving candidate.

Congratulations Karen.

Fraser, S. (May 2001). Profile – Karen Bonanno. Access, Vol. 15, Issue 2., 2001, p. 38.

Note: Karen Bonanno was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Australian School Library Association from 2002 to 2014.