Freedom Award Winner
By Rebecca Reid
Mrs. Pat Pickard, DirectorDepartment of Educational Media
DeKalb Count y School System
We recognize Pat Pickard for her outstanding service as a member of GLMA, as a member and past president, and her unswerving advocacy of intellectual and academic freedom.
The Georgia Library Media Association (GLMA) and ProQuest/SIRS jointly sponsor the Intellectual Freedom of Information Award. The ProQuest/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Awards began in conjunction with the North Carolina Library Association in 1981. Intellectual Freedom awards are present to individuals or groups who have met or resisted attempts at censorship and otherwise furthered the cause of intellectual and academic freedom. ProQuest supports the efforts of intellectual freedom committees. By honoring those who oppose censorship, ProQuest and GLMA hope that the awards will increase awareness of the importance of intellectual freedom and reinforce the idea that citizens cannot take First Amendment freedoms for granted.
The 2003 Award includes $500, a plaque, and a gift certificate for SIRS resources from ProQuest/SIRS. The winner also receives a framed certificate from GLMA.
Pat Pickard is an exceptional leader, educator, librarian/library media specialist, and advocate for access to information and intellectual freedom, in her county, across the state, and as the GLMA Governmental Liaison representative. Congratulations! Her dedicate work ensures that students have equal access to information and ideas through a quality selection policy that provides for high quality and diverse instructional resources for all learners. All of these efforts further the cause of intellectual and academic freedom.
