The Library Association of Alberta (LAA) has honoured Edmonton Public Library (EPL) Chief Executive Officer Pilar Martinez for her province-wide contributions to the library field and the goals of the LAA.
Martinez is the recipient of the Library Association of Alberta (LAA) 2016 President’s Award.
After serving as the Manager of Public Services with the Yellowhead Regional Library, Martinez joined EPL in 2000 where she served in a variety of roles including Deputy CEO. Following an exhaustive North American search, she was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2015. Martinez introduced EPL’s community-led service initiative and was instrumental in EPL becoming the first Canadian library to be named Library of the Year in 2014.
Martinez holds a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English from Acadia University. Throughout her career she has demonstrated a broad base of experience in library leadership including: advocacy, collective bargaining, strategic and business planning, recruitment and change leadership.
Martinez was presented with the award April 29, 2016 at the Alberta Library Conference in Jasper. “It is a personal honour to give Pilar this award,” said Jason Openo, President of the LAA. “I first met Pilar at the Pacific Northwest Library Association’s 2004 Leadership Institute and it was here that I was first exposed to her thoughtfulness and commitment to libraries, leadership and mentoring.”
Past winners include former EPL Chief Executive Officer Linda Cook in 2014 and the Honourable Lois Hole in 2005.
