Maryland State Law Library Director Receives
National Award for Public Service

(ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND – August 2, 2017)  Steve Anderson, Director of the Maryland State Law Library, has been named as the recipient of the 2017 Roy M. Mersky Spirit of Law Librarianship Award for Public Service.  The award was presented during the American Association of Law Libraries’ (AALL’s) annual meeting and conference, which was held July 15-18 in Austin, Texas.

Anderson was recognized for his work with the Howard County Early Onset and Newly-Diagnosed Parkinson's Disease Support Group, speaking engagements, and community outreach activities that address quality of life issues for people suffering from Parkinson's.

“Steve’s demonstrated commitment to public service deserves recognition.  He leads the State Law Library’s efforts to increase access to justice in our state by making legal information more readily accessible by members of the public,” said Mary Ellen Barbera, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland.  “This award recognizes another aspect of Steve’s public service as a volunteer with his community’s Parkinson’s disease support group.  We appreciate and honor his work helping others.”

The Roy M. Mersky Spirit of Law Librarianship Award gives special recognition to individual law librarians engaged in significant acts of charitable work or community or social service.  Mersky was co-creator and co-founder of the award with Richard Leiter, Director of the Schmid Law Library and Professor of Law at the University of Nebraska College of Law.

“The Spirit of Law Librarianship Award was created to recognize the selfless work of public service in which our members engage on a regular basis.  It is our intention that the people recognized through this award will serve as inspirations to others and encourage more people to step forward and serve their communities,” Leiter said.  “This year’s award recipient, Steve Anderson, is the very definition of all those attributes; he is an inspiration and a servant of his community and does so without complaint or excuse.”

“This is a prestigious award, and I am deeply honored to receive it,” Anderson said.  “I think it shows that people with Parkinson’s are just like everybody else and that people with disabilities can really strive in the workplace and give back to the community.”  Anderson was one of the founding members of the Howard County Early Onset and Newly-Diagnosed Parkinson's Disease Support Group more than eight years ago and is an active presenter and supporter in the group.

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