The Delaware Division of Libraries is delighted to announce Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women in March 2016.

Each year the Delaware Commission for Women inducts exemplary women into their Hall of Fame. Dr. Norman is the first librarian to be inducted, and she was selected due to her transformational leadership in crafting innovative strategies and partnerships for Delaware Libraries on behalf of Delawareans.  A Senate Tribute, sponsored by Senator Margaret Rose Henry, was also presented in recognition of “outstanding efforts and expertise in the arena of literacy and library technology.”

“I’ve worked with Annie for several years, beginning when I was State Treasurer, and I offer my congratulations,” said Governor Jack Markell. “She has brought extraordinary vision to Delaware Libraries. I am very proud that even during difficult times my administration was able to invest more than ever in libraries, which would not have been possible without the efforts of Annie and Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock.”

In her remarks on behalf of Delaware Libraries, Dr. Norman noted, “2016 is the 115th anniversary of the Delaware State Library Commission.  Libraries have evolved over the past 115 years, and libraries support girls, and women, and all Delawareans in learning, and renewal, throughout life.”

“Annie’s pursuit of excellence is exhibited both in her personal quest to attain the highest level of professionalism by completing her doctorate while simultaneously expertly managing a state library agency and through her organization’s quest to identify and implement best practices drawn from the world of business as well as from the library world,” said William Wilson, of Himmel & Wilson, nationally recognized library consultants.

With the support of the Administration and General Assembly, as State Librarian Dr. Norman steers Delaware’s libraries in collaboration, expansion, and improvement of services on behalf of Delawareans.

• Library buildings have almost doubled in size overall, and are designed to deliver state-of-the-art services through the robust shared technology platform supported by the Delaware Division of Libraries;
• Using the live data that a shared technology platform makes possible, Delaware is first to develop an innovative library assessment model at scale across all public library services;
• The Delaware Library Catalog (delawarelibraries.org), celebrating its 10th year, includes all Delaware public libraries as well as several academic, school, and special libraries sharing 2.6 million items on behalf of Delawareans statewide;
• The Delaware Division of Libraries now supports statewide all public library technologies including the network, Wi-Fi, public access computing, catalog, electronic collections, program calendar, and more;
• Delaware Libraries Inspiration Spaces, first formed with federal funds and a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Job Seekers, also expanded the capacity to support Entrepreneurs and innovators through maker technologies and events where people can enthusiastically learn about and experiment with technology and DIY activities;  and
• Partnerships with over 130 organizations and growing, expand the reach and capacity to meet Delawareans’ needs across all subject areas.

Dr. Norman has been State Librarian of Delaware since 2002.

• She received her Doctorate of Education in Innovation and Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University, and is the recipient of the Audrey K. Doberstein Award for Leadership for her dissertation entitled Librarians’ Leadership for Lifelong Learning;
• Her Master’s degree in Library Science is from Drexel University and she is a member of Beta Phi Mu, the international library and information studies honor society;
• Delaware Division of Libraries received the Delaware Quality Award of Merit and the Delaware Library Association Institutional Award in recognition of performance excellence principles and practices;
• She received the Delaware Library Association Distinguished Service Citation; and
• Her recent talk for TEDxWilmington, “Libraries and the American Dream” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDwndQ3qiSQ) conveys Delaware Libraries’ role in supporting the power of curiosity.

About

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women, now celebrating its 35th anniversary, is the oldest annual celebration of Delaware Women, inclusive of all women throughout the State. Its purpose is to annually recognize and acknowledge the achievements of remarkable Delaware women.

The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/classes, community partnerships, and more.

Contact:
Beth-Ann Ryan
Deputy Director, Delaware Division of Libraries
302-257-2002
beth-ann.ryan@delaware.gov

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