The University of Minnesota’s Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies has received an award from the American Library Association for serving the GLBT community.

The award came from the Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table. This is the first year of its Newlen-Symons Award for Excellence in Serving the GLBT Community.

The group says the award was established “to honor a library, librarian, library staff member, library board and/or library friends groups who serve the GLBT community.” Selections are based on innovation, impact, sustainability and advocacy.

ALA President Sari Feldman said the University of Minnesota Libraries’ collection has had “tremendous impact” and shows “leadership in collecting and preserving the record of the GLBT community, from the University of Minnesota campus and beyond.”

Feldman said, “Through preservation, collection development and advocacy, the Tretter Collection embodies how libraries can transform lives and communities.”

U of M Librarian and McKnight Presidential Professor Wendy Pradt Lougee said: “Now with an international audience, the Tretter is a leader in the advancement of GLBT archives and libraries.”

The award will be formally presented June 27 at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando.