Award Criteria
The fundamental measure the Leahy Award Committee considers when evaluating eligibility or selection for the Emmett Leahy Award is the significance of an individual's overall impact on the field of records and information management. This measure sets the award apart from other awards that recognize information management association service or are presented to groups, project teams, companies or public organizations.
Although the evaluation of each Leahy Award application employs the specific criteria discussed below, this is done within the context of the nominee's overall impact on the field of records and information management. This impact can be demonstrated through one, some or all of the following criteria:
- Program Development and Management: Programs, projects and studies developed and implemented that have documented results (e.g., savings, new services, productivity improvement, management capabilities, etc.) The description should indicate if the applicant was individually responsible, was the leader of a team, or was a member of the team that was involved with bringing about the change.
The Committee's assessment under this criterion will be based on the outcomes of this program, project or study with specific emphasis on how the nominee has shared with and communicated new ideas to RIM professionals or used the outcomes of these activities in other organizations, thereby having an impact on the RIM profession as a whole, as well as on the organization in which the individual worked. - Innovation: The design or development of new products, methodologies, concepts, and services or adaptation of existing ones that are original and fundamentally alter future developments in records and information management. The description should provide clear cut documentation of the results, impact, and/or successful implementation outcomes.
The Committee's evaluation under this criterion will focus on the outcomes of products, services, methodologies, concepts and services with an emphasis on the larger contribution that they have had on other organizations or the records and information management profession as a whole. - Education: Books and articles authored by the applicant, courses taught, lectures, and seminars presented and the audiences to which they are directed that demonstrate the applicant's original concepts, approaches or methodologies that significantly influence future developments in the field of records and information management.
The Leahy Committee's assessment under this criterion will be based on qualitative considerations and not necessarily on the number of publications, lectures, and seminars. - Professional and Organizational Leadership: Unique contributions made to significantly advance professional or trade associations serving the records and information management profession. Validation of this contribution may include awards or certificates received and offices held that demonstrate the applicant's specific role in impacting that change.