NT Library & Information Excellence Award

About

Re-launched in 2024, the NT Library & Information Excellence Award is an annual merit prize which celebrates and recognises the work of an individual working in any sector of the library and information profession in the Northern Territory. It celebrates achievements big and small and community impact on any scale. Nominations from throughout the Territory are encouraged.

Formerly known as the ALIA NT Recognition Award (which concluded in 2022), there has been a re-title and a re-evaluation of the criteria by the ALIA GLAM Top End Group.

Key dates for 2025

  • Nominations open: Monday 8th September
  • Nominations close: Wednesday 15th October 
  • Shortlist announcement in ALIA News on: Wednesday 5th November
  • Winner Awarded: Tuesday 18th November 2025 at the ALIA GLAM Top End Celebration event 

NOMINATION FORM

Previous winners

The Award

The NT Library & Information Excellence Award will be presented each November at an event in Darwin. The winner will receive:

  • a trophy - presented at an awards function organised by ALIA GLAM Top End 
  • a voucher for a year's personal ALIA membership, or the equivalent discount off an ALIA conference in the year ahead 
  • formal recognition on the ALIA website, ALIA Annual Report and via ALIA News. 

Who is eligible?

Any individual working in the library or information sector in the Northern Territory is eligible for nomination. Nominations can be made:

  • by yourself, i.e. self-nomination
  • by the manager of your library or information centre or of the parent body, or 
  • by one of your peers or a professional colleague
  • The winner from the year prior is ineligible, as the award will not go to the same person 2 years in a row. The previous year's winner will be invited to serve on the judging panel. 

What are we looking for?

The successful nomination will be judged on one or more of the following criteria. Nominees need only be eligible for one of the criteria below, and it is essential to outline how/why they meet the criteria and highlight their key achievements. 

 Nomination criteria:

  •  Demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the library &/or information profession
  •  Outstanding innovator of the year
  •  Outstanding storyteller of the year
  •  Rising professional (in the industry 2 years or less)
  •  Outstanding leadership in a library
  •  Outstanding work in mentorship
  •  Outstanding collaborator of the year

 Then under description of activity, Please highlight the key achievements of the nominee, particularly in reference to:

  • Leadership (up/down/sideways)
  • Library sector impact
  • Community impact
  • Currentness
  • Innovative/creative approach
  • Collaboration or engagement

What are the conditions of entry?

  1. Nominations are sought from all sectors of the library and information profession in the NT.

  2. Nominations must be submitted on the nomination form (below) and should: 
       - Clearly indicate the selection criterion/criteria being addressed
       - Describe the activities undertaken to meet the given criterion/criteria (use the STAR method)
       - Can include photographs*, articles, or webpages that may serve to illustrate the nominee's achievements

    * submitted photographs may be used in support of social media posts and awards ceremony presentations

  3. The selection process will comprise:
       - A review for eligibility and suitability by the ALIA GLAM Top End Committee
       - Appointment of a selection panel by the ALIA GLAM Top End Committee

  4. The decisions made by the selection panel are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

  5. If the selection panel advise that no nominees have met the given criteria then no award will be given. 

The consideration process

  • After a nomination is received, it is registered and an acknowledgement is sent to the nominator.
  • Prior to the awards ceremony contact is made with the shortlisted nominees to establish whether they are willing to accept an award, and to invite them to the ceremony. 

Previous winners

2025

The winner of the 2025 NT LIS Excellence Award was announced at the NT Library and Information Excellence Award Presentation and Project Showcase Award event hosted by ALIA GLAM Top End and Libraries and Archives Northern Territory on 18 November 2025.

The winner was Carol Cheng, City of Darwin Libraries.

The finalists were:

  • Nadine Benson– City of Palmerston Library
  • Rosie Martinez – City of Darwin Libraries
  • Darcy Sorensen – Charles Darwin University

    • 2024

    The winner of the 2024 NT LIS Excellence Award was announced at the Award Night hosted by Libraries and Archives Northern Territory on 28 November 2024.

    The winner was Joanne Scott, Library Program Services Manager, Taminmin Community Library.

    The finalists were:

  • Tamarzon (Tad) Larner – Charles Darwin University
  • Nicole Nurse – City of Darwin Libraries
  • Renecia Maneveldt – Alice Springs Public Library
  • Joanne Scott - Taminmin Community Library

    • 2022

    The winners for 2022 were announced at an Awards Ceremony hosted by Libraries and Archives NT and ALIA on 7 November. The winners were:

    Urban Category

        Winner: Taminmin Community Library and Taminmin College Library - Students versus Seniors
        Highly commended:

    • City of Palmerston Library - Gulwa Community Recording Studio
    • Joanne Wood -City of Darwin Library and Family Services
    • Alice Springs Public Library, Library Programs Team - Innovation Play Day
    • Joanne Scott - Tanminmin Council Library

    Regional and Remote Category

        Winner: Barunga Community Library of Roper Gulf Regional Council - Our Barunga Dogs
        Highly commended: Jabiru Public Library - Street Library

    2021

    The winners for 2021 were announced at an Awards Ceremony hosted by Libraries and Archives Northern Territory (LANT) and ALIA on 18 November. The winners were:

    Urban Category

        Winner: Andrew Aragala, City of Darwin Libraries
        Runner Up: NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services Library

    Regional and Remote Category

        Winner: Katherine Public Library

    2020

    The 2020 ALIA NT Recognition Award for Urban Libraries Merit Award: any library service located in a local government area servicing a population of 20,000 or above, was jointly awarded to:

        City of Darwin Libraries: Online Programs for Children & Youth
        City of Palmerston: Drag Queen Storytimes

    The 2020 ALIA NT Recognition Award for Regional & Remote Libraries Merit Award: any library service located in a local government area servicing a population of 19,999 or less. was awarded to:

        Coomalie Community Libraries: Street Libraries & response to COVID-19

    2020 nominees

    Urban Libraries

        City of Darwin Libraries: Online Programs for Children & Youth
        City of Darwin Libraries: Home Delivery with Tennis NT
        City of Darwin Libraries: Free Fruit for Children
        City of Palmerston: Drag Queen Storytimes

    Regional & Remote Libraries

        Alyangula Community lirbary: STEM Club
        Coomalie Community Libraries: Street Libraries & response to COVID-19
        Jabiru Library: Jabiru Library Services

     

    2019

    View the 2019 winners here:  2019 Winners