Eligibility
Individuals, libraries and information services in Australia are eligible for nomination for the Award. Prior winners and current members of the VALA Committee are not eligible for nomination.
Nominations
Nominations may be made by staff or customers of libraries or information services, or by other interested persons.
Nominations can be made using the ONLINE FORM and must include:
- Name and contact details of the person or organisation being nominated.
- Name and contact details of the person making the nomination.
- The name of at least two people, knowledgeable in this area, to whom the nomination may be referred for independent assessment.
- Reasons for the nomination – how has the nominee contributed to the development of information technology usage in Australian libraries and information services.
It is essential that nominees are NOT aware of their nomination. Disclosure of a nomination may prejudice that nomination. Details of a nomination are only made public when a nomination is successful, and then only upon presentation of the Award.
Conditions
The VALA Committee will appoint a 4-person judging panel, which will be chaired by the VALA President (or nominee). At least one member of the judging panel may be a former recipient of the Williamson Award. Where a member of the judging panel is a close colleague of an individual being nominated for the Award, or employed by a library or information service being nominated for the Award, they will stand down from the judging panel.
The VALA Committee may decide not to make an Award in the event of there being no nominations deemed suitable by the judging panel.
Closing Date
The closing date for nominations for the 2016 Robert D. Williamson Award has been extended to Monday 14 December 2015.