Year Honored: 2016

Born in: Maryland

Biography

Annie Norman moved to Dover, Delaware in 1982, and began attending Salisbury University as a commuter. Shortly after, she started at the Delaware Division of Libraries in an entry-level position at the Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Norman moved up the ranks quickly, getting four promotions in four years, and started considering a master’s degree in library science.

She got her master’s from Drexel eventually, and also started thinking of her vision for the future of Delaware Libraries, “One thing unique about Delaware is that we have to wear a lot of hats as part of a smaller agency. Unlike larger states, this helps us to see a lot of connections between the different programs we provide, and there is a lot of value to that.”

After becoming State Librarian and the Director of the Delaware Division of Libraries in 2002, Norman put her vision into action. Under her leadership Delaware Libraries expanded to a total of 130 different partnerships, designed to meet the needs of Delawareans in a variety of areas. The partnerships include Job Centers provided by the Department of Labor and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; relationships with Social Workers; funding by the Division of Arts to send performers to every library each summer; and a partnership with Tracy Quillen Carney and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to send books via mail to Delaware children.

Norman is most proud of her institution of the Statewide Delaware Library Catalogue. The Catalogue includes all 33 public libraries, 37 academic libraries, and over 2.5 million items are available to Delaware residents. Delaware is one of only a few states to have a resource like this.

Norman has also earned a Doctor of Education in Innovation and Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University. She and Delaware Division of Libraries have received numerous awards over the years; the Audrey K. Doberstein Award for Leadership for Norman’s dissertation titled, ‘Librarians’ Leadership for Lifelong Learning;’ Delaware Library Association Distinguished Service Citation; the Delaware Quality Award of Merit; and the Delaware Library Association Institutional Award in recognition of performance excellence principles and practices.

An avid collector of World Fair Memorabilia and book lover, Norman sums up her career experience, “Delaware is a great place to be able to make a difference. It’s a great place to experiment. Our success is really a testament to all of the libraries working together.”
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Sources and Additional Readings

Delaware Library Catalog. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://dlc.lib.de.us/client/en_US/default

Dr. Annie Norman: Delaware ambassador. Live Love Delaware. (2021, January 18). Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://www.livelovedelaware.com/delaware-ambassadors/dr-annie-norman/

State librarian, Dr. Annie Norman, inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women. State of Delaware News. (2016, April 11). Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://news.delaware.gov/2016/04/11/state-librarian-dr-annie-norman-inducted-into-the-hall-of-fame-of-delaware-women/

TEDxTalks. (2015, December 1). Libraries and the American dream | Annie Norman | TEDxWilmington. YouTube. Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDwndQ3qiSQ

Welcome from Annie Norman, Delaware state librarian.
Division of Libraries' Blog - State of Delaware. (2009, June 30). Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://libraries.blogs.delaware.gov/2008/03/17/welcome-from-annie-norman-delaware-state-librarian/