The Roadbuilder's Award was established in 1989 by the Round Table for Ethnic Minority Concerns (REMCo). The award recognizes ethnic minority librarians in the library education, academic, public school and special libraries, who have served as pioneers in librarianship and also as positive role models. This award pays homage to ethnic minority librarians who exemplify courage, integrity, perseverance, and who have contributed to the field of librarianship for their specific category. 

Past Roadbuilder's Award Recipients

66th NCLA Biennial, October 14-17, 2025- Winston Salem, NC

Derrick L. Flood, Academic Librarianship

Dr. Annette L.H. Phinazee*, Library Education

Mason L. Hughes, Public Librarianship

65th NCLA Biennial, October 16-20, 2023- Winston Salem, NC

Forrest Foster, Academic Librarianship, Academic Librarianship

Dr. LaTesha Velez, Library Education

LaJuan Pringle, Public Librarianship

64th NCLA Biennial, October 18-22, 2021- Winston Salem, NC

Dr. LaKeshia Darden, Academic Librarianship

Dr. Kawanna Bright, Library Education

Leander Croker, Public Librarianship

63rd NCLA Biennial, October 15-18, 2019- Winston Salem, NC

Dr. Anthony Chow, Library Education

Derrick L. Flood, Public Librarianship

Liliet Council, School Librarianship

Shamella Cromartie, Academic Librarianship

62nd NCLA Biennial, October 17-20,2017 - Winston-Salem, NC
Dr. Amelia Gibson, Library Education
Beatriz Guevara, Public Librarianship
Kecia Hopper,  School Librarianship
Brenda Linares, Special Librarianship
Iyanna Sims, Academic Librarianship

61st NCLA Biennial, October 20-23,2015 - Greensboro, NC
Dr. Ismail Abdullahi, Library Education
Brigitte Blanton, Public Librarianship 
Beverly Murphy, Special Librarianship
Bobby Wynn, Academic Librarianship

60th NCLA Biennial, October 15-18,2013 - Winston-Salem, NC
Tammy Baggett, Public Librarianship 
Alan R. Bailey, Academic Librarianship
Tamika Barnes, Special Librarianship

Clara M. Chu, Library Education

59th NCLA Biennial, October 4-7, 2011 - Hickory, NC
Annie H. Coleman, Academic Librarianship
Agnes W. Ho, Public Librarianship

58th NCLA Biennial, October 6-9, 2009 - Greenville, NC
Charles M. Brown, Public Librarianship
Jamal L. Cromity, Special Librarianship
Dr. Claudia J. Gollop,  Library Education
Jamane Yeager, Academic Librarianship

57th NCLA Biennial, October 16-19, 2007 - Hickory, NC
Dr. Irene Owens, Library Education
Vanessa Work Ramseur, Public Librarianship

56th NCLA Biennial, September 20-23, 2005 - Winston-Salem, NC
Gerald Vernon Holmes, Academic Librarianship
Robin Imperial, Public Librarianship

55th NCLA Biennial, September 22-26, 2003 - Winston-Salem, NC
James Jarrell, Public Librarianship
Louise M. Rountree*, Academic Librarianship

54th NCLA Biennial, October 2-5, 2001 - Winston-Salem, NC
Miriam Gwinette Ricks,  Library Education

53rd NCLA Biennial, September 20-23, 1999 - Winston-Salem, NC
Dorothy Huey, Special Librarianship

52nd NCLA Biennial, October 7-10, 1997 - Raleigh, NC
Dr. Robert M. Ballard, Special Librarianship
Dr. Benjamin Speller,  Library Education
Brenda Stephens, Public Librarianship
Dr. Clarence Toomer, Academic Librarianship

51st  NCLA Biennial, October 3-6, 1995 - Greensboro, NC

Dr. Pauletta Bracy,  Library Education
Barbara Best-Nichols, Special Librarianship

Wanda Brown, Academic Librarianship

Sherwin Rice, Public Librarianship

50th  NCLA Biennial, October 19-22, 1993 - Winston-Salem, NC

Barbara Akinwole, Special Librarianship

Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, Public Librarianship

49th  NCLA Biennial, November 12-15, 1991 - High Point, NC 

Nell Wright Alford*,  School Librarianship

Ophelia Irving, Special Librarianship

Linda Simmons-Henry, Academic Librarianship

48th  NCLA Biennial, October 10-13, 1989 - Charlotte, NC

Mollie Huston Lee*, Public Librarianship

Evelyn Pope, Library Education

Daisy Lee Williams, School Librarianship

*Posthumously