Jerry W. Stephens, Ph.D., director of the Mervyn H. Sterne Library, recently received the 2008 Significant Contribution Award from the Alabama Association of College and Research Libraries Executive Board.

The award is presented annually and recognizes the achievements and significant contributions of organizations, groups, vendors and individuals in the area of college and research libraries.

Stephens helped establish the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries in 1984, the first statewide library consortia to treat public and non-profit private institutions as equal partners. He also played a leadership role in the implementation of the Alabama Virtual Library, a set of electronic databases available for K-12, post-secondary and higher education institutions and public libraries.

Stephens also has been a member of several boards, councils and committees, including the Online Computer Library Center Board of Trustees, the Southeastern Library Network Board, numerous Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation teams and the Library Service Construction Act Advisory Council for the Alabama Public Library Service.