Capital Area District Library Earns 2019 State Librarian’s Excellence Award

Press Release

October 7, 2019

LANSING – Capital Area District Library (CADL) is the recipient of the 2019 State Librarian’s Excellence Award for superior customer service, State Librarian Randy Riley announced today.

“Selecting one library for this recognition is quite difficult,” said Riley. “The Capital Area District Library impacts Ingham County communities daily and consistently finds new and inventive ways to bring their resources to the people.”

Riley presents the annual award, including $3,000 in privately-donated funds, Wednesday, October 16 at the Michigan Library Association’s annual conference in Novi.

The Library of Michigan Foundation and Library of Michigan (LM) bestow the State Librarian’s Excellence Award and Citations of Excellence Award yearly to highlight the importance of Michigan libraries’ services.

This year’s Citations of Excellence co-winners, for their excellent customer service, are the Petoskey District Library in Petoskey and Howe Memorial Library in Breckenridge. Each of those libraries will receive $1,000 with this honor.

The State Librarian’s Excellence Award is sponsored by the Roger and June B. Mendel Fund through the Library of Michigan Foundation. The Citation of Excellence Awards are funded by Martin L. Gibbs in memory of his late wife, Carole Sorenson and the Library of Michigan Foundation in recognition of former Executive Director Carolyn “Sparky” Mowery.

“We are so thrilled to be awarded the State Librarian’s Excellence Award,” said Capital Area District Library Director Scott Duimstra. “To be recognized for the superior customer service we provide to our communities is very important to the capital area district libraries. From our staff, to our board, and our community partners, our mission is to empower the communities we serve.”

Riley said the selection committee, comprised of representatives from public, school, academic and special libraries, was impressed with CADL’s diversity and wide-ranging programs.

“Programs that garnered the selection committee’s attention included working with Ingham County Jail inmates; a ‘library of things’ that loans appliances, tools, games, and other things, besides books, at no charge; outstanding local history resources; a ‘Girls that Code’ program; and structuring meaningful community conversations,” he said.

State Librarian’s Excellence Award evaluation factors include: demonstrating that the library provides superior service to its customers and community in a cost-effective manner, with a can-do attitude; always delivering on promises; and fulfilling the library’s commitment to high standards of customer service.