The Virginia Public Library Directors Association recently awarded the Newport News Public Library System with the Outstanding Young Adult Program Award and the Better Together Social Capital Award. Library systems in Virginia had the opportunity to nominate up to three programs. Out of the three programs submitted by the Libraries, two won these prestigious awards.

The Better Together Social Capital Award is given to an organization that creates connections among diverse people or groups, based on trust, that enhance cooperation for mutual benefit. NNPLS received this award for the Denbigh Youth Alliance—a partnership of city departments, nonprofits, volunteer mentors, and the private sector that engages teenagers who live in the Denbigh section of the city in an eight-week summer program to help the teens succeed in life.

The Outstanding Young Adult Program Award was given in recognition of UAVs 4 Me: Aerial Robotics Workshop--a Robotics program created by the Newport News Public Library System’s Digital Services team which provides high school aged youth with direct services to build technology skills, specifically in the area of UAV-microcontroller technology.