National Park College librarian receives state award

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — National Park College Library Director Lynn Valetutti was awarded the President’s Award from the Arkansas Library Association during its recent annual conference at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

“I was shocked and then I cried. I was just so shocked. I just believe in that organization so much,” Valetutti told The Sentinel-Record.

Established in 1993, the ArLA President’s Award “is given at the discretion of the association president” and is “awarded to someone who has provided extensive assistance to the president or to the association,” a news release said. It is not an annual award and has not been awarded in several years.

Valetutti was presented the award and accompanying plaque by ArLA President Jil’Lana Heard for “her dedicated assistance in helping the organization transition to a self-management model,” the release said. She was selected from over 800 ArLA members for the honor.

“Several people had recommended me. They don’t give that award out all the time. You have to do something extra special,” Valetutti said.

Valetutti took on her role at NPC on July 8 this year. Previously, she was the Arkansas State Library Manager of Digital Services for three years. She also directed the federally funded, statewide Traveler database program, which provided K-12 schools, colleges and universities with free student access to educational databases.

“Without that program, a lot of the schools would really suffer,” Valetutti said.

According to the release, she also oversaw the state document depository clearinghouse and federal document program. Prior to joining the Arkansas State Library in 2016, she worked at University of Arkansas in Monticello as the Electronic Resource and Serials Librarian for almost two years. Valetutti also held the position of Coordinator of Instructional Media at Ouachita Baptist University from 2005-2010.

She graduated from OBU in 2013 with a bachelor of arts in History and Spanish and was awarded a Master of Library and Information Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2015, according to the release.

Valetutti is a member of the Arkansas Library Association and has served as its secretary/ treasurer for over three years. She is a committee member on the American Library Association Office of Information Technology Policy, which “serves to address volatile issues that impact libraries,” the release said.

“I think it’s going to enhance my resume, for sure, to have that,” Valetutti said of the award.

“It’s a privilege to receive that. It really is. It’s just kind of unbelievable.”