# North Dakota Library Association

The North Dakota Library Association (NDLA) is a professional association for librarians, library staff, and library supporters that represent school, public, academic, and special libraries located in North Dakota, United States. "The purpose of this organization is to exercise professional leadership and to promote library services and librarianship." The North Dakota Library Association was formed on January 18, 1906. The association has humble beginnings – at the 1909 conference, there were only 18 members. There are currently over 300 NDLA members (including academic, health, public, and school libraries).

## Executive board

The NDLA's executive board includes 27 members, including: president; president-elect; past president; secretary; treasurer; American Library Association councilor; Mountain Plains Library Association representative; Academic & Special Libraries Section; Government Documents Roundtable; Health Science Information Section; New Members Roundtable; Public Library Section; School & Library Youth Service Section; Technical Services Roundtable; Constitution, Bylaws & Policies; Continuing Education; Finance; Intellectual Freedom; Legislative; Nominations, Elections & Voting; Membership; Professional Development; public relations & 2014–26 executive secretary; The Good Stuff Editorial; archivist/historian; state librarian; and web editor. The executive board is responsible for the transactions of “all business of the North Dakota Library Association”, speaking “for the NDLA membership on national, state, and local library issues”, setting “goals and executes long-range plans for the NDLA”, taking “no position on social issues that do not directly impact libraries” and following “through on directives expressed by NDLA members at the Annual Conference and by section and roundtable decision.” The executive board “meets at least three times a year” and “all meetings are open to the NDLA membership.”

## Librarian of the Year Awards

NDLA awards a Librarian of the Year award annually since 1992 for "notable contributions to the North Dakota library profession, .. significant development of libraries in North Dakota, or .. exemplary statewide service for an extended period of time."
| Name | Library | Location | Year |
| Ruth Evert | Edgeley Public Library | Edgeley | 1992 |
| Cheryl Bailey | University of Mary Library | Bismarck | 1993 |
| Bev Quamme | Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School Library | Fargo | 1994 |
| Neil Price / Sally Oremland | University of North Dakota / North Dakota State Library | Grand Forks / Bismarck | 1995 |
| Blanche Stangeland | Carrington Public Library | Carrington | 1996 |
| Dennis Page | Grand Forks Public Library | Grand Forks | 1997 |
| Shelby Harken | Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | 1998 |
| Thomas Jones | Bismarck Public Library | Bismarck | 1999 |
| Mike Jaugstetter (posthumous) | North Dakota State Library | Bismarck | 2000 |
| Cyndy Schaff | Williston Community Library | Williston | 2001 |
| Betty Gard | Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | 2002 |
| Iris Swedlund | Velva School and Public Library | Velva | 2003 |
| Jerry Kaup | Minot Public Library | Minot | 2004 |
| Cheryl Tollefson | Dickinson Area Public Library | Dickinson | 2005 |
| Kathy Thomas | North Dakota State University Libraries | Fargo | 2006 |
| Marlene Anderson | Bismarck State College Library | Bismarck | 2007 |
| Michael M. Miller | North Dakota State University Libraries | Fargo | 2008 |
| Jan Wysocki | Bottineau Library, Minot State University | Bottineau | 2009 |
| Doris Ott | North Dakota State Library | Bismarck | 2010 |
| Marilyn Guttromson Johnson (Retired) | | Bismarck | 2011 |
| Christine Kujawa | Bismarck Public Library | Bismarck | 2012 |
| Kathy Thomas (Retired) | North Dakota State University Libraries | Fargo | 2013 |
| Sandra Hannahs | West Fargo Public Library | West Fargo | 2014 |
| Paulette Nelson | Minot Public Library | Minot | 2015 |
| Wendy Wendt / Greta Guck | Grand Forks Public Library / Leach Public Library | Grand Forks / Wahpeton | 2016 |
| Kelly Steckler (posthumous) | Morton Mandan Public Library | Mandan | 2017 |
| Laurie McHenry | Thormodsgard Law Library | Grand Forks | 2018 |