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Andrea Sevetson, Information Professional Consultant, LexisNexis Academic and Library Solutions, is the 2009 recipient of the James Bennett Childs Award. This award is being given to Andrea for her significant and sustained contributions to government documents librarianship. Andrea’s recognition stems not only from her work in GODORT but also her contributions to 91´«Ã½, the U.S. Census Bureau, and currently at LexisNexis Academic and Library Solutions.

Numerous letters were submitted to the GODORT Award’s Committee outlining Andrea’s illustrious career. Andrea has the distinction of serving as Chair of GODORT (1996-1997) and Chair of the U.S. Public Printer’s Depository Library Council (2001-2002). Andrea has also chaired the GODORT Bylaws Committee (2001-2002), served as Program Committee Chair (1995-1996), and the International Documents Task Force Coordinator (1993-1994) as well as serving as a member on numerous standing committees.

It is also important to note Andrea’s contributions to other GODORT initiatives, including her work as the first GODORT Web Administrator (1993-2001), and her outstanding work as the Lead Editor of DttP (2003-2009). Andrea is known as the Godmother of the Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM) and, as several nominators noted, can cite chapter and verse at any meeting for any area covered by the PPM. It is to her credit that she almost single-handedly revised the PPM to reflect parliamentary and technological changes. In each these roles, Andrea has set a new standard for achievement and excellence. In particular, her references noted her uncanny ability to connect people and projects based on their skills and personal attributes, and the outstanding quality of all the products she has led and developed.

Equally important, however, are Andrea’s contributions outside of GODORT. Her work on the Inter-Agency Working Group on Government Information Policy (IAWG), her contributions as a librarian working with European Union materials, and her work as a Special Assistant for Government Information at the California Digital Library all were noted by her nominators as significant contributions to the government information arena. Lastly, it is also important to note her work with the U.S. Census Bureau in making older decennial censuses and the Statistical Abstract of the United States available electronically, and now as a trainer for LexisNexis Academic and Library Solutions. Each job has required detailed knowledge of government information, and Andrea has brought forward to those positions the same energy, dedication, and leadership which she committed to GODORT.

Therefore, in honor of Andrea’s contributions to GODORT and all users of government information it is indeed an honor to present the James Bennett Child Award to Andrea Sevetson.