The Friends of Kansas Libraries Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership and achievement on behalf of Kansas libraries. The recipient is selected by the FoKL board and it is the most prestigious award we confer.
The award was established in 2006 in honor of Duane F. Johnson, who, after serving as Director of Libraries in Great Bend and Hutchinson, was appointed State Librarian of Kansas in 1983. In this role, he championed Kansas librarians and libraries with vision and dedication. He served as State Librarian for 20 years under Governors Carlin, Hayden, Finney, Graves, and Sebelius until his retirement in 2004.
Those who have been recognized include:
- Hans Fischer, President of FoKL and KLTA
- Leroy Gattin, Treasurer of KLA, Director of Hutchinson Public and SCKLS
- Vikki Jo Stewart, Volunteer Coordinator and Special Projects Director, State Library of Kansas
- Pat Gaunce, Director of West Wyandotte Branch of the Kansas City Kansas Public Library, Governmental Affairs Chair of KLA
- Jane Hatch, Kansas City Kansas Public Library
- Betty Cattrell, Director of Haysville Community Library
- Jim Minges, NEKLS Director
- Cindi Hickey, State Library of Kansas
- Shannon Roy, State Library of Kansas
- Carol Barta, NCKLS
- Cynthia Berner and Gina Millsap, Wichita and Topeka Shawnee County Public Libraries
- Carolyn Little, NEKLS, FoKL
- Gary Schmidt, Mabee Library, Washburn University
- Warren Robinson and Mabel Moses (posthumously) – 2019
- Marion Renner, Haysville Friends, member of State Library Board
- George Seamon, Director NWKLS and KLA headquarters
- Paul Hawkins, Director SCKLS
- Judith Cremer, Director of the Pottawatomie Wabunsee Regional Library