Rita Shacklett, Director of the Rutherford County Library System, has been awarded the TLA Honor Award at the recent Tennessee Library Association convention in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Honor Award recognizes any person or group who has made a significant contribution to the furtherance of librarianship on a statewide or national level.

Rita is a native of Murfreesboro. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor's degree in English and history, and from George Peabody College for Teachers with a masters in Library Science.

She began her career with the Rutherford County Library System in 1975 as a library clerk and worked her way up to the director position in 2008.

Rita has served on the Read To Succeed Council, The Lon Nuell Family Literacy Advisory Council, and as secretary for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and Tenn-Share Board.

She currently serves on the MTSU Community Advisory Council, is a member of the Murfreesboro Kiwanis and the 2009 Class of Leadership Rutherford. She is also a member of the Tennessee Library Association, Public Library Association and American Library Association.

Rita has worked tirelessly to see the Rutherford County Library System and Tennessee become the home of one of the first “shelf-less” libraries, (the Technology Engagement Center, which will open in July).

She has been an excellent example in networking and gaining support of the library board, foundation, friends groups, governing bodies and the community to see this project to fruition.

Linebaugh Public Library is located at 105 W. Vine St. in Murfreesboro. Smyrna Public Library is located at 400 Enon Springs Rd. West in Smyrna. Eagleville Bicentennial Public Library is located at 317 Hwy 99E in Eagleville. MGL Library is located inside Patterson Park Community Center at 521 Mercury Blvd. in Murfreesboro. Explore, Imagine, Engage through RCLS. For more information, call 615-893-4131 or visit www.rclstn.org.