Bernie Hawke, the Dunedin City Council's library services manager, was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Public Libraries of New Zealand during the organisation's annual conference last week.
The award, for outstanding service to public libraries, recognised a variety of projects introduced under Mr Hawke, who moved to Dunedin from Sydney to take up the role in 2002.
Since then, he has overseen the introduction of the SouthLib consortium, which shared a library computer system between five councils across Otago and Southland, and radio frequency technology in Dunedin's public libraries.
The award also recognised his work towards Dunedin's success in obtaining the title of Unesco City of Literature, as well as the establishment of a South Dunedin community pop-up library and service centre.
Mr Hawke, who was one of six recipients of the award in Wellington, said yesterday the award was not just about him.
It also recognised the wider achievements of Dunedin Public Libraries and the Dunedin City Council, which he was ``delighted'' about.
