The FOSCL Awards Program recognizes individuals and/or groups who provide critical help and support as South Carolina public libraries work to enrich the lives of all South Carolinians. Public libraries provide information to help our patrons make critical day-to-day life decisions, to lead young people into the adventures of reading, to create an eagerness to learn new technologies, to enrich our understanding of our history, to help chart our future, to provide materials that lift our spirits and help us to better manage the daily challenges of life. FOSCL is proud to highlight this important work through our Awards Program. Current members of Friends of South Carolina Libraries (FOSCL) may submit nominations. Nominations must include the name of the nominee, the name of the award and the name and address of the individual or Friends group submitting the nomination.
Award Categories
Outstanding Friends Group
The Outstanding Friends Group Award recognizes a South Carolina library Friends group whose contributions to the support and advancement of their library has been outstanding. The award is intended to recognize a broad spectrum of appropriate qualities and activities.
2024 Award Friends of the Irmo Branch Library, nominated by Licia Jackson, Membership Chair
Outstanding Individual Award
The Outstanding Individual Award recognizes an individual whose contributions to the support and advancement of public libraries has been outstanding. Nominees do not need to be South Carolina residents, but a connection with South Carolina public libraries is required. Nominees may include, but are not limited to, volunteers, library trustees, government officials or legislators, school and university personnel, Friends of Libraries members, and philanthropists. Nominees may include, but are not limited to, volunteers, library trustees, government officials or legislators, school and university personnel, Friends of Libraries members, and philanthropists. The award is intended to recognize a broad spectrum of appropriate personal qualities and activities.
2024 Winner Kathy Nieuwenhuis, Treasurer of the Friends of the Green Sea Floyds Library, nominated by the Friends of the Green Sea Floyds Library
John H. Landrum Advocacy Award
The John Landrum Advocacy Award was created in 1999 to honor an individual or group, which has excelled in library advocacy. It recognizes individuals whose advocacy, support, and encouragement have been critical in recognition of the value of library services and ensuring that South Carolina’s public libraries remain prominent and vibrant institutions. Nominees may include, but are not limited to, volunteers, library staff, library trustees, government officials or legislators, school and university personnel, Friends of Libraries members, and philanthropists. The award is intended to recognize a broad spectrum of advocacy activities.
2024 Winner Mary Elizabeth Land, Abbeville Library Director (retired), nominated by the Friends of the Abbeville County Library
Public Library Employee Excellence Award
The Public Library Employee Excellence Award recognizes public library personnel who are critical to library services and without whom South Carolina’s public libraries would be substantially diminished. Two awards may be given annually. Only current public library employees are eligible nominees.
2024 Winner:
John W. Skardon, York County Library Reference Librarian, nominated by the Friends of the York County Library
Outstanding Public Official Award
Recognizes outstanding South Carolina elected officials who have been honored by a local Friends’ board. Local Friends’ Boards may nominate for consideration by FOSCL those individuals whose advocacy, support, and encouragement have been critical to the success of their own local library services.
2023 Representatives Gary Simrill, Murrell Smith, and Todd Rutherford
Special Awards
Outstanding support provided to FOSCL and libraries in a manner different from that described by the other awards.
2023 Winner Loretta Wells, Volunteer with the Friends of the Beaufort County Library