NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   DATE: 5/15/07 CONTACT : LESLIE SCHALER, COMMUNICATION ASST., (413) 545-0162 UMass Amherst Libraries Awarded First Place for Annual Report at the Massachusetts Library Association Conference   STURBRIDGE, MA – The Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) presented the 18th Biennial Public Relations Awards to the winning applicants at the Association’s Annual Conference at the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.  Winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges from the public relations, press, and library fields.  Evaluation criteria included graphic design, originality, and presentation. The UMass Amherst Libraries received First Place in the category Annual Reports, and Second Place in the Newsletter category.  A PDF of the Library’s annual report is available at: http://www.library.umass.edu/whatsnew/AnnualReport06.pdf.  Emily Silverman, Director of Development and Communication was presented with a certificate by MLA Public Relations Committee co-chairs at the Public Relations Awards Ceremony. The Massachusetts Library Association advocates for libraries, librarians, and library staff, defends intellectual freedom, and provides a forum for leadership, communication, professional development, and networking to keep libraries vital.