FORT BENNING, Ga., (April 23, 2014) -- The annual Columbus Area Library Association Library Recognition Award ceremony was held April 17 in the Maneuver Center of Excellence Donovan Research Library.
The ceremony recognized Sherrie M. Floyd, acquisitions and collections librarian at Donovan and CALA member, as the first Army recipient for the LIBRA award.
The LIBRA award was created in 2003 by CALA to acknowledge those who have had a major impact on libraries, reading and literacy amongst the Chattahoochee Valley area said Linda Jones, academic librarian at Columbus State University and CALA president.
"Sherrie has always been an advocate for libraries and librarians," said Ericka Loze-Hudson, MCoE Headquarters Donovan Research Library chief and membership chair for CALA.
Loze-Hudson said Floyd began her 30-year Army librarian career in Mannheim, Germany. Throughout the years she's worked in Fort Campbell, Ky., Vicenza, Italy, Wiesbaden, Germany, and deployed as a civilian to Bosnia and helped set up libraries there.
"In 2003, Sherrie returned to the states as the reference librarian and later manager of the Sayers Memorial Library," Loze-Hudson said. "While under her management, the Sayers library was the recipient of the 'Best Army Library Program of the Year,' and in 2007, she transferred to the Donovan library."
Loze-Hudson said among other recognitions, Floyd has been key to Fort Benning's library renovations.
"Sherrie has been instrumental in renovating the Sayers library and working with other Fort Benning librarians and staff to design and relocate the Donovan library and Armor Library from Fort Knox and Harmony Church to the present day MCoE headquarters Donovan library location," Loze-Hudson said.
Joanie Horton, communication skills chief, commended Floyd on her expertise during the renovation process.
"I think of how integral she was in the process of turning the Donovan library from a room with books to a first-class research center connecting Soldiers across the globe to the answers they seek," Horton said.
Floyd said she appreciated being the first Army librarian to receive the LIBRA award.
"I am deeply, deeply honored," Floyd said. "I cannot believe that I will be included with the group of people who have received this award. CALA and the LIBRA award establishes the business in the community and gives an avenue for us to recognize people who work hard in this profession (and) I am proud and happy to be part of this team.
"I feel blessed to have come into a community where (CALA members and LIBRA winners) have worked and have been able to step into a community that loves libraries. I am overwhelmed (with the kind words that were spoken) and your confidence is inspiring."
Floyd said CALA is dedicated to helping and enriching the community with knowledge.
"CALA takes on a project every year that will encourage access to library resources," Floyd said. "(We) reach out to organizations in need in the community where we (can) help promote literacy and provide access to resources."
Floyd said, a few projects included donating books to the Chattahoochee High School Library, library development at Rose Hill School Library and in Hope Harbour, a domestic violence shelter and partnering with the Big Read program.
"CALA is unique," she said. "I never had the opportunity to belong to a local library association that work(s) in the community to involve the (local) libraries so that we can network, support and improve access to really good library programs.
"We could do a lot more if we had more members involved."
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