Cape Elizabeth, Maine - Jay Scherma, Director of the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth, has been named the 2012 Maine Outstanding Librarian of the Year by the Maine Library Association (MLA).
This award honors a librarian who has demonstrated an outstanding record of service to an individual library as well as service to the library profession. Criteria for selection include the promotion/development of library services that enrich a library's staff and community, the promotion/development of community or institutional support of the library, involvement in groups (not library-specific) which promote the library profession, and a record of professional leadership.
"Jay Scherma has provided tremendous service and leadership to his community of Cape Elizabeth as well as the Maine library community as a whole. In his state-wide library leadership roles, including serving as MLA President 2000-2002, Jay has been a champion for patron access to information, intellectual freedom, and collaborative, cost-efficient resource sharing," said Sarah Sugden, Chair of the MLA Awards Committee. "He is so attuned to the needs and interests of his community that it was little surprise to learn that a Cape Elizabeth community survey found that 9-out-of-10 residents are satisfied with their library."
Scherma's service to the Maine library community includes his aforementioned term as MLA President, Chair of the Maine Libraries Conference (1999-2000), Chair of Conference's Vendor Committee (2004-2008), and the Minerva Library Network Executive Board (2008-2011), in addition to serving as Minerva Treasurer. Scherma is also active in the New England Library Association and has shown particular commitment to mentoring librarians and new leaders in the profession through his involvement in the New England Library Leadership Symposium .
"I am very excited that Jay Scherma is the Maine Library Association's 2012 Outstanding Librarian award winner. I am one of many who have personally benefited from Jay's professionalism and dedication to libraries. The Maine Library Association is very pleased to have such a dedicated librarian represent our profession." said MLA President Andi Jackson-Darling.
The mission of the Maine Library Association is to promote and enhance the value of Maine libraries and librarianship, to foster cooperation among those who work in and for Maine libraries, and to provide leadership in ensuring that information is accessible to all citizens from their libraries.
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