A biennial award consisting of $1,000 and a 24k gold-framed citation of achievement honoring a librarian, library board, library group, or an individual who has exhibited unusual courage for the benefit of library programs or services.

Courage is defined by the donor, Paul Howard, as:

"the quality of mind which enables one to face adversity, difficulty,

or danger with resolution and fortitude . . . it is that characteristic

which enables librarians to seek the achievement of goals in spite of all opposing forces."