Anne T. Parent, Chief of Library Services at the Office of Library and Information Services from 2001 until her retirement in April 2006, was named COLA’s Sweetheart of the Year at the Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA) annual meeting on February 13, 2007. Each year the Rhode Island COLA presents its Sweetheart of the Year Award to a distinguished individual who has made a significant contribution to the Rhode Island library world. Hope Houston, Readers Advisor at OLIS' Talking Books Plus program, presented the award to Ms. Parent in front of a standing room only crowd in the State Room at the Rhode Island State House.

Following are excerpts from Ms. Houston's remarks:

This year’s recipient [of the COLA Sweetheart of the Year], Anne Parent, embodies the spirit of this award. Anne, the immediate past Rhode Island Chief of Library Services is also a recent recipient of the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Library and Information Services’ Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award. Anne comes by both honors because of her hard work and dedication to the profession.

Anne’s colleagues at OLIS universally agreed that Anne’s openness and approachability are her hallmark. Anne was neither offended by, nor afraid of, trying different or new things. All remarked on her ability to see the needs of the library community as a whole, and as a leader in this community, to support and enable those around her to bring about the necessary changes. They were proud of her representation of her staff to the larger library community. To the OLIS Staff Anne was a leader in all ways.

COLA also presented Coalition of Library Advocates Scholarships to three students at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Library and Information Studies and the annual William E. Reeves Friends Recognition Awards. Ted Widmer, Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University was the guest speaker.