91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is pleased to announce the 2020 Peggy Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children was awarded to Alice Knapp, president of the Ferguson Library (Stamford, Connecticut). The Sullivan Award is presented annually to an individual in a library administrator role who has shown exceptional understanding and support of public library service to children. With the cancellation of the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference, the award will be presented at the Award Ceremony and Reception Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, during the Midwinter Meeting in Indianapolis, Indianapolis. More details will follow.

Alice Knapp graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Religious Studies and History from Siena College. She has a Master’s of Arts Degree in History and a Master’s in Library Science from the State University of New York in Albany. Before joining the Ferguson Library in 2013, she served as the director of the Frank J. Basloe Library (Herkimer New York), Canastota Public Library (Canastota, New York), executive director of the New Canaan Library (New Canaan, Connecticut) and the Bethel Public Library (Bethel, Connecticut).

In 2003, Alice was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker. She served as president of the Connecticut Library Association and the Stamford Rotary Club. Alice has also served on many community boards, including World Affairs Forum, Stamford Public Education Foundation, Stamford Partnership, Stamford Downtown Special Services District.

Alice Knapp was nominated for the Sullivan Award by Caroline Ward, former coordinator, Youth Services, and Elizabeth McKay, supervisor of Youth Services. They wrote, “Alice has been a major leader and cheerleader for Ferguson’s Youth Department. She is a good listener and empathetic person, always careful to make sure the Supervisor of Youth Services and the staff are involved in the planning of any new projects. She naturally embodies the very finest in a supportive, visionary administrator.”

Members of the 2020 Sullivan Award jury are Chair Sara Dallas, Southern Adirondack Library System, Saratoga Springs, New York; Dora Ho, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles; Natasha Johnson, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Sue Pekel, 2019 Sullivan winner, Bentonville Public Library, Bentonville, Arkansas; and Sue Rokos, Mohawk Valley Library system, Schenectady, New York.

The deadline for submission of applications for the 2021 Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children is February 1, 2021. Guidelines and are available on the 91´«Ã½ website.