Public Access To Government Information Award

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients of the award may be an individual or organization. Members of the AALL Government Relations Office are not eligible. Recipients need not be law librarians or members of AALL.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE AWARD

The Public Access to Government Information Award shall be jointly administered by the AALL Government Relations Committee and the AALL Awards Committee. The Government Relations Committee shall: advertise the award; solicit nominations for the award; review the nominations; and recommend from two to four nominees to the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee shall make the final decision from the nominees presented and notify the winner. The Government Relations Committee will handle subsequent publicity activities and any miscellaneous tasks that arise in the administration of the award.

JUDGING CRITERIA

* A contribution that significantly improves public access to government information, thereby increasing the public's knowledge about the workings of government. The award is given in accordance with AALL's mission to provide leadership in the field of legal information and to promote equal access to government information. The award will reflect this by honoring the achievements of those who have championed public access.

* The extent to which the individual or organization has had a positive impact on protecting and promoting public access to governmental information.

* The extent to which the effort advances the AALL mission and Government Relations Policy.

AWARD PROCESS

Nominations for this award are to be sent to the Chair of the Government Relations Committee, via email or regular mail.

A subcommittee of the Awards Committee, including the Awards Committee chair, will review the nominations and make a final decision on who will receive the award. Each nominee shall be considered individually and confidentially and will be judged according to the criteria listed above. Sources of information for the subcommittee about a candidate include the nominating letter(s) and recommendation(s) from the Government Relations Committee. To ensure confidentiality, contact with members of AALL other than the person(s) nominating, other Awards Committee members, and Government Relations Committee members should be avoided.

Frequency and number of awards: The Award may be presented annually, but there is no requirement that the award be given each year.

Deadline for nomination: Normally, nominations must be submitted no later than February 1 of each year. However, for 2009 only, the deadline has been extended to February 28 to allow the committee ample time to complete its deliberations and the administrative aspects of the award by April 15.

AWARD PRESENTATION

The award shall be presented during the AALL Annual Meeting, and it will be given in the name of the Association. It will consist of an appropriate memorial to honor the achievements of the individual or organization.