ALISE / Norman Horrocks Leadership Award

First awarded in 2009, the $500 cash award recognizes a new ALISE member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in professional ALISE activities. This award addresses a number of concerns relevant to the Association, including:
  • The need to attract new members and retain their membership as a lifelong commitment.
  • The need to develop and recognize those new members with outstanding leadership qualities as future leaders of ALISE at the highest levels.
  • The need to recognize newer members for service to the organization rather than limiting recognition to academic achievements.
Norman Horrocks began his career in libraries in Manchester, England, and worked in Cyprus, Western Australia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before joining Dalhousie University in 1971. He became director of the School of Library and Information Studies (now the School of Information Management) and was later dean of the Faculty of Management. Known for his kindness, generosity, and his prodigious memory and knowledge of library history, Norman served as a mentor to countless librarians and information professionals throughout his life. In 2006, Norman was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his lifetime devotion to library and information science. 
 
For more information about Norman, please see Dalhousie's tribute to him HERE

 2025 Sponsor

Sponsorship opportunities will be available soon for the ALISE/Norman Horrocks Leadership Award.

Chair

Gretchen Hoffman, Texas Woman's University 

Members

Frankline Kipchumba, Kenya National Library Service
Jacqueline Kociubuk, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ina Fourie, University of Pretoria (Department of Information Science)

Board Liaison

Daniella Smith, University of North Texas, Director, Membership

Committee Membership

  • The Committee consists of four ALISE Members, of whom serves as Chair.
  • Members are selected by the President-Elect and serve for two years, and may be appointed to serve a second consecutive two-year term.
  • The chair is selected by the President-Elect holds this position for one year, and may be appointed for a second consecutive one-year term.
  • The Committee reports to the Director of Membership Services.

Award Criteria

  • This award is open to any ALISE member who has been a member for no more than seven years (including years as a student member, if applicable), at the time the award is given. An individual may only receive this award once. 
  • The winner is selected based on demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in professional ALISE activities (e.g., participation in SIG activities; organization of ALISE conference events; service on ALISE committees; recruitment or retention of other new ALISE members; etc.).

Nominations Requirements

  • A letter of nomination (no more than one page, single-spaced), describing the ways in which the nominee has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities in professional ALISE activities (e.g., participation in SIG activities; organization of ALISE conference events; service on ALISE committees; recruitment or retention of other new ALISE members; etc.)
  • The date that the nominee first joined ALISE
  • Supporting documentation, including the nominee’s current CV and letters of support that address the criteria listed above.

Submission Process

All submissions must be completed through the ALISE 2025 submission system. 

First-time users will be required to create an account (separate from your www.alise.org account). Once created, return to the ALISE '25 submission page to log in. Once logged in, select 'Enter as an author'. Select the relevant track for your submission, ensuring you review all requirements prior to completing your submission.

Submission Deadline

March 28, 2025

Previous Recipients

2024- no award given

2023- LaVerne Gray

2022 - No award given

2021 - Michele Villagran

2020 - Sarah Buchanan

2019 - Keren Dali

2018 - No award given

2017 - No award given

2016 - C. Sean Burns

2015 - No award given

2014 - Shari A. Lee

2013 - Nicole Cooke

2012 - Renate Chancellor

2011 - Lauren Mandel

2010 - No Award Given

2009 - Linda Most