Plaudits Have Been Paid To A Senior Librarian After He Was Presented With A Prestigious Wales-Wide Award

Dylan Hughes, Library Services Manager with Wrexham County Borough Council, took the accolade of Welsh Librarian of the Year at a ceremony held by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ceremony took place in Swansea at the end of May, and was held to recognise the efforts of senior and chief librarians across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dylan said he was “very pleased” to have received the award, but was keen to pay tribute to the efforts of colleagues in the Library and Information Service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “I’m very pleased to be named the Welsh Librarian of the Year 2016, but I see it as much more than an individual award; it also recognises of the fantastic contribution that library staff make to their communities across Wrexham, enhancing people’s lives and delivering a service that is second to none. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a deserved award to all colleagues in the Library Services with whom I work to deliver excellent services.” He added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Libraries are essential to local communities, providing access to knowledge and culture and supporting learning and literacy at all ages.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dylan was nominated for the award by the Society of Chief Librarians Wales Executive Group, members of which wanted to thank him not only for his leadership at libraries in Wrexham, but also his support for other organisations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “Dylan is an incredibly hardworking service manager, and it is only proper that his efforts and those of his colleagues in the Library Services be recognised. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Congratulations are due to Dylan and his team. To take a nationwide award is no small feat and this is a reflection of his dedication to the Library Services.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mandy Powell, Head of CILIP Cymru Wales, said “It’s wonderful to see an inspiring information expert recognised for the outstanding work they do. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The six shortlisted nominees for 2016 are fine examples from the library and information profession in Wales; their skills and knowledge have a positive impact on the lives of people in Wales through access to literacy and digital inclusion, improving the world through knowledge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Dylan is a much loved and respected member of the profession and CILIP Cymru Wales is thrilled to see him honoured with this award.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​