Scott Stewart, Chairman of the Loudoun County Public Library Board of Trustees, has been honored by the Virginia Public Library Directors Association as "Trustee of the Year."

Stewart has been particularly active, and singularly effective, in working with Library Staff and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors to protect the county's libraries during a very difficult period of revenue losses and budget reductions brought on by the current recession.

Outgoing Public Library Director Doug Henderson called Stewart "a priceless resource for the Loudoun County Public Library" whose passion and commitment has helped raise awareness of library issues, as well as his colleagues' spirits.

He has been particularly effective as a spokesperson for the expanding economic and social impact of libraries, their staff people, and their network of community volunteers and supporters throughout the county, especially in times of economic hardship.

"Scott Stewart's leadership and passion for the Loudoun County Public Libraries has served as a beacon of hope in an otherwise very bleak economic environment," Trustee Nancy Nuell noted. "He both inspires and enlightens - the public and his fellow Board members - to reach higher and never give up."

"The first thing that comes to mind is how genuinely passionate Scott is about our libraries," Trustee Karen Montgomery told the Eccentric. "He articulates well my sentiments, and I believe, those of the board, when he tells others how integral the libraries are to our Loudoun County communities."

As a mentor for an incredibly broad, deep, and diverse network of library users and supporters, and especially for his fellow trustees and local advisory board members, Stewart has steadily insisted that everyone must be engaged in raising awareness, by simply telling the truth about the depth and breadth of the libraries' contributions to life and work in Loudoun.

By doing so with "dogged persistence, tempered by diplomacy, grace, style, keen appreciation and respect for the good will of all stakeholders engaged in keeping all the county's libraries alive and well," one Board member noted, "Stewart earned everyone's respect, and, at last, has been appropriately honored."