The Davis Cup Award was established by the Children's Librarians Section of the Illinois Library Association in 1971 to honor Marion Davis. Ms. Davis retired that year from a very active role in services to children at the Des Plaines Public Library, ILA, and in regional organizations such as the Children's Reading Round Table and LACONI. One of her contributions to Illinois libraries is titled ñTASAEO (Telling A Story At Every Opportunity in our libraries and in our community).î Ms. Davis' warm, gracious, and welcoming personality reached out to newcomers and veterans in the field alike, encouraging participation in cooperative endeavors to extend and improve activities that bring together children and reading. Often serving as mentor to children's librarians in the area, Ms. Davis was a storyteller extraordinaire, making this oral tradition a link with people, young and old.

After retiring from Illinois, Ms. Davis continued to encourage library services for children as a volunteer storyteller in Dunedin, Florida. Subsequently, a portion of the library was given over to children, and a small budget was set aside for children's books and programs. Successful summer reading programs followed. Ms. Davis also served as librarian in Dunedin's expanded library facility for seven years. In addition, she devoted her energies to coordinating a discussion group in the library on Great Decisions and to the challenge of setting up a library in her church.

In sending her best wishes to the children's librarians of Illinois, she quoted Lewis Carroll: ñGive my love to any children you happen to meet.î

Rationale
This annual award is presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution in library service to young people. Since its inception, the award has been presented to individuals who exemplify resourcefulness, professionalism, and caring in their service to young people.

Eligibility
The recipient must be an ILA member. Neither the recipient nor the nominator need be a youth services librarian. Members of the Davis Cup Committee and the Youth Services Forum officers cannot nominate an individual for the Davis Cup.

Selection Process
The Davis Cup Committee selects the recipient. The Davis Cup Committee must work with the nominations received in accordance with the established timetable; in the event that no deserving nominations are received, Davis Cup Committee members may not then nominate a recipient.

Criteria
The nomination should consist of the completed ILA nomination form and a written statement. The statement should be no more than four pages, demonstrating with specific examples how the individual meets the following criteria. A maximum of three references may be included. The criteria for consideration are:

• specialized or innovative programs or services for young people initiated by the nominee;
• service to the library profession through active participation in professional organizations (at the local, state, or national level), the training of others, publishing, etc.;
• the nominee has influenced and/or cooperated with persons and organizations within his/her community in the planning or presenting of programs or services for young people; and
• the nominee has reached and affected persons outside his/her own community by deed, idea, and/or example.

Award Winners
The recipient will be presented an engraved Revere bowl and a $300 financial award.

Sponsor Contact
Pamela Sader
Scholastic Library Publishing
90 Sherman Turnpike
Danbury, CT 06816
phone: 800-621-1115
fax: (866) 783-4361
e-mail: pubexhib@scholasticlibrary.com

Scholastic Library Publishing presents check and pays for bowl; ILA orders bowl.