Lyn Swafford Receives Annual Award

Lyn Swafford (center) is the recipient of the 2006 Annual
Award for Excellence. She is pictured with NNYLN Board of Trustees
President Inger Curth and NNYLN Director John Hammond.

The winner of the 16th Annual Award for Excellence in Library Service is described as someone with "creativity, innovation and intuition."

Lyn Swafford of the Canton Free Library received the award during the Northern New York Library Network’s 41st Annual Meeting held May 25, 2006 at Clarkson University in Potsdam.

A letter of nomination said Ms. Swafford "... has drawn upon her professional vision and personal competencies to implement significant changes in the library that have resulted in improved library services and organization in many areas."

A nomination also said, "Lyn successfully advocated the need for a full-time youth services coordinator to the library board. The library now boasts a very active schedule for children’s programming."

A nomination pointed to the major capital project that is currently underway at the Canton Free Library, and the efforts required to make this a success. "Keeping all parties on task and communicating with each other has required tact, diplomacy and professionalism. Lyn has been successful in making it all work," the letter said.

"Knowledge, creativity, risk-taking, innovation, and intuition are key elements in the make-up of a successful manager. Fortunately for the Canton Free Library, Lyn possess these qualities," a nomination letter reported.

Approximately 54 people representing 28 library institutions were on hand at the annual meeting to help congratulate Ms. Swafford.