91´«Ã½

CHICAGO – The 91´«Ã½’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) today announced the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies at the University of Minnesota Libraries as the inaugural recipient of the Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence in Serving the GLBT Community.

The award was established to honor a library, librarian, library staff member, library board and/or library friends groups who serve the GLBT community. Nominees are judged based on innovation, impact, sustainability and advocacy.

"The Newlen-Symons Award recognizes the tremendous impact of the Tretter Collection and its leadership in collecting and preserving the record of the GLBT community, from the University of Minnesota campus and beyond," said 91´«Ã½ President Sari Feldman. "Through preservation, collection development and advocacy, the Tretter Collection embodies how libraries can transform lives and communities."

The GLBTRT Executive Board selected the Tretter Collection in part for its role in organizing the international GLBT Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections (ALMS) conference, collecting materials from a wide variety of GLBT community groups and organizations (including the Log Cabin Republicans and international GLBT organizations, many in countries where homosexuality remains illegal), and the visionary development of the trans* community oral history project.

“The Tretter Collection has been exceptional at capturing and preserving the record of the GLBT community and in collaborating with that community to develop innovative programs and resources,” said University Librarian and McKnight Presidential Professor Wendy Pradt Lougee, “Now with an international audience, the Tretter is a leader in the advancement of GLBT archives and libraries.”

The Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence in Serving the GLBT Community will be presented on Monday, June 27, 2016, during the Stonewall Book Awards program at the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in Orlando.

The award is funded by and named after Robert R. Newlen, chief of staff, Library of Congress and John W. and Ann K. Symons. Ann Symons is past-president and treasurer of the 91´«Ã½ and the immediate past chair of GLBTRT.

About GLBTRT

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table of the 91´«Ã½ is committed to serving the information needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender professional library community and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender information and access needs of individuals at large. GLBTRT is committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the 91´«Ã½ and democratic institutions.

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