The North Carolina Library Association gives four awards. This is a list of past award winners.

See the awards and scholarships page for more details about the awards.

General NCLA Awards

NCLA Distinguished Service Awards

• 2023: Dr. Julie Herberger
• 2023: Joel Reese
• 2019: Tim Bucknall 
• 2017: Ruth Ann Copley and Susan Nutter
• 2015: Dr. Pauletta Bracy and Gerald Holmes
• 2013: Carol Walters
• 2011: Dr. Robert Burgin
• 2009: Dr. Benjamin F. Speller
• 2007: Frances Bryant Bradburn and Paula Pearce Hinton (posthumous)
• 2006: Leland Park
• 2005: Diane Kester
• 2003: April Wreath
• 2001: Elaine Christian (posthumous), Sue Ann Cody, William S. Powell, and William H. Roberts
• 1997: Gene Lanier
• 1995: Edward G. Holley
• 1993: O. Mel Busbin, Jr. (posthumous)
• 1991: Elizabeth Jordan Laney
• 1989: Nancy Brenner, Annette Phinazee (posthumous), and Diana Young

Honorary memberships

• 2013: Harriet Smith
• 2011: Ruth Holleman
• 2009: Marcia Johnson
• 2005: Marian McLawhorn and Kay R. Hagan
• 1999: L. B. Rick Beasley
• 1995: Charlie Rose and Elinor Swaim
• 1991: Irene P. Hairston and Sarah Dale Merrill
• 1989: Kenneth C. Royall, Jr. and Robert Williams
• 1987: Patrick G. Dorsey, William C. Friday, and Craig Phillips
• 1985: Eleanor and Elliott Goldstein, Harold W. Hardison, George W. Miller, Jr., and Samuel T. Ragan
• 1983: Harry K. Griggs, Sr. and Flora Webb Plyler
• 1981: John Emmanuel Dotterer, Mary Frances Kennon Johnson (posthumous), Mary Lynn Jordon, Philip Smythe Ogilvie (posthumous)
• 1979: Thad Stem, Jr.
• 1977: Lyda Moore Merrick
• 1975: Joseph V. Ruzicka, Jr. and B. Everett Jordan
• 1973: John F. Blair and Hilda Austin Highfill
• 1971: Hector Mclean and Charles W. Phillips
• 1969: Mary Peacock Douglas, Elmer H. Garinger, Benjamin Lee Smith, David Stick, and Philip Johnson Weaver
• 1965: Charles F. Carroll, Roy B. McKnight, Mrs. Claude S. Morris, Sr., and Meade H. Willis, Sr.
• 1961: James W. Atkins, Nell Battle Lewis, Charles R. Brockmann, Lucile Kelling Henderson, D. Hiden Ramsey, and Mary Lindsay Thornton
• 1953: Susan Grey Akers, Robert D. Douglas, Georgia H. Faison, Harry Miller Lydenberg, and Charles E. Rush
• 1951: Marjorie Beal, Ethel Taylor Crittenden, Lillian B. Griggs, Nellie Rowe Jones, and Katharine C. Ricks
• 1949: J. Frank Wilkes
• 1947: Joseph Penn Breedlove and Louis Round Wilson
• 1943: Charles Whedbee
• 1939: Annie F. Petty
• 1923: Mary Palmer Phillips
• 1919: Minnie Leatherman Blanton
• 1906: Ida J. Dacus, John P. Kennedy, and Julia Rankin
• 1904: Anderson H. Hopkins and Anne Wallace

Life memberships

• 2023: Dr. David Wright 
• 2019: Cathy Campbell
• 2019: Dr. James Carmichael
• 2017: Kathy Winslow
• 2015: Nancy Fogarty
• 2013: Ron Jones
• 2011: Dr. Beverley Gass
• 2009: William H. Roberts, Dr. Benjamin F. Speller
• 2007: Elizabeth Herring Smith and Richard Wells
• 2005: Elizabeth Laney
• 2003: Louise Marie Rountree
• 2001: William H. Roberts
• 1999: Doris Ann Bradley, Elsie Brumback, Gwen Jackson, Gene Lanier, and Carol Sutherland
• 1997: Camilla McConnell and Ophelia Irving
• 1995: Neal F. Austin, James Govan, Miriam Ricks, and Alene Coley Young
• 1993: Emily S. Boyce and H. Eugene McLeod
• 1991: Eunice Paige Drum
• 1989: Lualgia P. Alcorn, Louise V. Boone, Edith Briles, Dorothy W. Campbell, Lillie D. Caster, Clara J. Crabtree, Marion M. Johnson, Issac T. Littleton, and Pauline F. Myrick
• 1987: Mertys W. Bell, Martha Davis, Ila Taylor Justice, Marjorie Wilkins Lindsey, Mae S. Tucker, and Allegra M. Westbrooks
• 1985: Mildred Council and H. William O’Shea
• 1983: Elizabeth Copeland, Barbara Heafner, Katherine Howell, and Geroge Linder
• 1981: Cora Paul Bomar, Hoyt R. Galvin, Marjorie Hood, Marian Leith, Marianna Long, Louise Moore Plybon, and Mary Elizabeth Poole
• 1979: Paul S. Balance, Willie Godfrey Boone, Charlesanna Fox, Mildred C. Herring, Evelyn B. Pope, and Jane B. Wilson
• 1977: Hallie S. Bacelli, Harlan C. Brown, Mollie Huston Lee, Benjamin E. Powell, Eunice Query, and Elaine von Oesen

Ray Moore Award

• 2023: Al Jones
• 2021: Al Jones
• 2019: Al Jones and Kaye Dotson
• 2015: Joanna Bolick and Plummer Alston Jones, Jr.
• 2013: Winona Ramsaur

Biennial Scholarships

There are four biennial scholarships to support library scholarship:

The Appalachian Scholarship for future library media specialists

• 2023: Sarah Costello Dwyer
• 2021: Monet Hardison
• 2019: Alison Norris
• 2017: Ruth Richards
• 2015: Megan Northcote
• 2013: Melanie Sherrill
• 2011: Paula Farmer

The McLendon Scholarship for original or continued study in library science

• 2015: Shelby Fields
• 2013: Stefanie Keller
• 2011: Timothy Cook

The NCLA Memorial Scholarship.

• 2023: Natalie Goretti
• 2021: Emily Law
• 2019: Patricia Lyons
• 2017: Rebecca Lopez
• 2015: Lynette Kendrick
• 2013: Julianne Moore
• 2011: Angela Duncan and Katherine Whetzel

The Query-Long Scholarship for work with children or young adults

• 2023: Anna Louise Kallas
• 2021: Caroline Flory
• 2019: Adrian Zeck
• 2017: Violetta Nikitina
• 2015: Kapil Vasudev
• 2013: Lisa Hartzell
• 2011: Cathryn Hughes

Section Awards

Sections may also give awards.  These include:

Marilyn Miller Award for Professional Commitment, Women's Issues in Librarianship Roundtable

• 2011: Dale Cousins

College & University Section Student Scholarships Awards

• 2011: Erin Carrillo, UNC - Chapel Hill; and Tamara Rhodes, NC Central University

The William H. Roberts Public Library Distinguished Service Award, Public Library Section

• 2011: Phillip Whitford, Braswell Memorial Library

Meralyn G Meadows Scholarship, NC Library Paraprofessional Association

• 2011: Jonda Sanders

Round Table for Ethnic Minority Concerns Roadbuilder Award

• 2011: Annie H. Coleman, Academic Librarianship
• 2011: Agnes Ho, Public Librarianship