This year's recipient of the Charles E. Beard Award is Linda Cooks, a student in the VSU MLLIS Program since spring 2012.

In the essay submitted to the Georgia Library Association committee that reviews applicants for the award, Linda wrote, “I see librarianship as a field that welcomes those with varied academic and professional experiences. I look forward to working in a career where the learning process is ongoing, and the opportunities to share knowledge with others are endless."

Linda has a master’s degree in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University and has worked in real estate appraisal and cultural resource management for over 20 years. She has a special interest in the social and cultural history of communities, architectural history, and heritage education. Upon attaining her MLIS form Valdosta State University, she looks forward to a new career in either academic librarianship or archival and records management..

Linda Cooks

Linda Cooks

 


Ms. Cooks is the fifth VSU MLIS student to receive this award established in 2006 in memory of Charles E. Beard. As the director of the University of West Georgia Ingram Library from 1978-2004, Beard led the librarians through the rapid technological changes that occurred during this era and was well known for his dedication to libraries.His name lives on through the endowment fund and lecture series established in his name.