Bay City Librarian Wins Coveted Award
April 24, 2014
By: Mary Ruthko
Anne Clark, Children's Librarian(Photo courtesy of the Michigan Library Association)
The Bay County Library System has reason to be proud this year. Anne Clark, Children's Librarian II/Department Head of the Children's Department at the Alice & Jack Wirt Public Library in Bay City has been awarded the 2014 Frances H. Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth Award. The coveted annual award recognizes a Michigan library staff person who has made significant career contributions in library science serving ages 0-18.
A maven of technology, early literacy, and education, Anne's contributions to library science are truly amazing. Through her blog, "So Tomorrow," she offers mentoring, advice and idea sharing for other librarians. Founded in 2007, it receives more than 10,000 visits per month.
Anne is also a founding member and organizer of "Flannel Friday," a nationwide movement for librarians to share story time ideas. In February 2014, she served as webmaster and team member for the first Michigan KidLib Unconference. In addition, she has served on the MLA Mitten Award work group twice, presented at the MLA Spring Institute three times, and is slated to present at the 2014 Rural Library Conference on Mackinac Island.
Anne began her library career six years ago as a Children's Services Department Head at the Shiawassee District Library in Owosso. Though relatively new to BCLS, her experience and expertise have enhanced its programming. Since April 2013, she has served more than 12,000 patrons through several hundred new and traditionally offered programs at the Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library.
BCLS Director Tom Birch predicts "With her enthusiasm and commitment to the field of librarianship, and all that she has already accomplished for us with the Bay County Library System, I suspect that her contributions have only just begun."