Alexandria Library Director Rose T. Dawson received the prestigious Trailblazers Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association at the organization’s annual conference in Philadelphia last month.
The award represents the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s highest honor, presented every five years to recognize pioneering contributions that have “blazed a trail” in the library profession. Dawson became the first black director of the Alexandria Library when she took the position in 2008.
“I am deeply grateful to have been selected to receive this award,” Dawson said. “I believe that libraries are meant to improve the communities they serve, and this can be true in many ways. Access to information for all, and the preservation of history for all, means a greater chance at justice for all.”
The award citation specifically recognized Dawson’s efforts to commemorate the often-overlooked 1939 Library Sit-In civil rights protest and her work establishing the Alexandria Black Family Reunion event to preserve local black history.
According to excerpts from the award submission, Dawson’s work “exemplifies what the Trailblazer Award seeks to honor” through her commitment to ensuring “all voices are heard, all people are represented, and all stories are told.”
The submission praised her “continued, steady dedication to ensuring the Alexandria Library is a just, fair, and equal resource for its entire community — past, present, and future.”
Dawson maintains memberships in several professional organizations, including life memberships in the American Library Association and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. She also participates in the Virginia Public Library Directors Association, Public Library Association, and Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association was established in 1970 to advocate for library services to black communities and provide leadership for recruiting and developing black librarians.
