This award honors political figures who have continually shown vision in improving libraries. One particular area in which Delaware libraries have been improved under the leadership of Minner is in the area of technology. Library technology funding in Delaware has increased by more than 1100 percent since FY2001.
Delaware is now a national leader in library technology, ensuring citizen access to high-speed internet, e-government and other services with the purchase of hundreds of new, state-of-the-art computers for use in public libraries.
A key technology initiative of the Minner-Carney Administration noted by Library Journal is the Three-Year PC Replacement Cycle to replace and keep current every public access computer in Delaware public libraries. "We keep updating our computers because of their importance to the lives of our children," said Minner.
Other accomplishments noted in the article are Delaware's superior e-government standing, the extensive Delaware Library Catalog, and the Delaware Book Festival.
In his article, John N. Berry III, wrote that "influenced by libraries, Minner, Windsor, and Geisenberger-the Delaware Dream Team-have supported and improved them, with the state's citizens and librarians the beneficiaries."
Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor, who oversees the Delaware Division of Libraries (administered by State Librarian Annie Norman), has been an integral member of the team which has nurtured Delaware's libraries. Assistant Secretary of State Rick Geisenberger has likewise helped to implement many of the Governor's library initiatives.
