4 Pima County librarians get service awards

Steff Koeneman, community relations manager for the library, said the honorees are:

• Sol Gómez, branch manager at Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch Library, 1607 S. Sixth Ave., received the "I Love My Librarian" award administered by the American Library Association.

Gómez was among 10 national winners of the award given by the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times, which recognizes service to communities, schools and campuses. She received $5,000 and was honored in New York earlier this month.

• Adriana Rendón, a librarian at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave., received the Arizona Library Association's Emerging Leader Award.

Rendón has served as chairwoman of the Nuestras Raíces Literary Arts Festival committee for two years. She also served as vice president of the Tucson Chapter of Reforma, an association that promotes library and information services to the Hispanic and Spanish-speaking community.

• Mary Givins, a librarian at Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave., received the 2009 Outstanding Library Service Award from the Arizona Library Association.

Givins was recognized for her advocacy of refugee education, and for her dedication to Tucson's refugee community. She works with refugees from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Central America, South America, Mexico and Cuba.

• Kristen Curé, a substitute librarian who works at various library branches, received the Louise A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship from the Arizona Library Association. The $1,000 scholarship will help support Curé, who is enrolled in the University of Arizona's School of Information Resources and Library Science master's program.

Stephens, a UA graduate, worked for Glendale Public Library for 30 years and retired in January 2007, according to the association's Web site. She died in July 2007.

Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at 573-4104 or cduarte@azstarnet.com