Past award recipients

The CLA Technology New Leader Award cultivates new leadership in the field of library and information science technology. The award honors emerging leaders, enables them to attend and actively participate in the CLA conference, and encourages and inspires them to accept leadership roles within CLA’s Technology Interest Group (TIG) and the association as a whole.

2024 Award Recipient

Shannon Broden, San Jose State University's School of Information

Shannon Broden is in her final semester of the MLIS program at San Jose State University, focusing on emerging technology and digital content. For the 2023-2024 school year, she served as the Web Coordinator for the San Jose State student chapter of the American Library Association, which received the ALA Student Chapter of the Year for its efforts. Shannon is also highly active in the User Experience Group at San Jose State University iSchool as Membership Coordinator, and the recently formed student chapter of Women in Cybersecurity where she is advising with their web presence.

In virtual worlds as Kreatya Shannon, Shannon Broden is a member of VCARA - a virtual worlds and VR common interest group founded in Second Life in 2009 by the School of Information at San Jose State University - celebrating 15 years this year. She also serves as Directory Lead for the board of the Community Virtual Library, which maintains listings of educational communities in the Metaverse, as well as contact information for those willing to mentor others in the virtual space.

Shannon has been on panels and presented posters. She has appeared as a panelist at ALA LibLearnX 2024, and presented posters at the ALA and CLA receptions for SJSU regarding her virtual experiences. Virtual panels and presentations include Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education, and the Virtual Worlds MOOC Conference, both held annually in Second Life

Award Information

Eligibility

• Applicants are required to be members of CLA.  If unsure, please contact the CLA Office for assistance no later than two weeks prior to the deadline.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a library degree program, be a recent library school graduate, or have no more than five years of post-master's degree experience.

Submissions for the 2025 Award

The 2025 awards application/nomination period is now closed.

How to Apply

Applicants should complete the application form below and submit the following to CLA:

• A brief professional interest statement (no more than 500 words) explaining your interest and background in library technology and your career goals.
• A resume or curriculum vitae is preferred but not required.
• Evidence of technology projects at the student, paraprofessional, or professional level are all plusses that the committee considers.

Further information

• The CLA Technology Emerging Leader Award is coordinated by CLA's Technology Interest Group (TIG)
• TIG reserves the right not to give an award if a qualified candidate is not found.
• Award recipients will be asked to submit a photograph to be used in award publicity.
• Applications and all supplementary materials must be received by 5:00pm on the submission deadline.
• If you have any questions about the award, please contact Jeffrey Davis <jtrappdavis@gmail.com>