Established in 1980, the Conover-Porter Award was named in honor of two pioneers in African Studies bibliography: Helen F. Conover and Dorothy B. Porter Wesley. Helen F. Conover was senior bibliographer, African Section of the Library of Congress, serving 32 years before her retirement in 1963, and Dorothy B. Porter Wesley was librarian of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University, serving 45 years before retiring in 1973. The prize is presented in even years to the author of the outstanding published work in African bibliography and reference published during the previous two years (copyright date).
The prize includes $300 and a plaque presented at the Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony.
Eligibility
Nominations must be an Africa-related reference work, bibliography, or bibliographic essay, published separately or as part of a larger work during the preceding two years (copyright date).
Nomination
Nomination details must be submitted to the committee including (1) author, (2) contact information, (3) full citation, and (4) justification via the online form. Nominations open January and close April 30 of even years. NOMINATE A TITLE HERE.
View a list of previous winners on the Africana Librarian Council website.
2026 Selection Committee
The selection committee is constituted and managed by the Africana Librarians Council.
Kindly send inquiries and submissions to the 2026 Award Coordinator:
Deborah LaFond (Co-Chair, Co-chair ALC Collections & User Services Committee, ALC Member at Large)
Social Sciences Subject Librarian
University at Albany LI 205
Albany, NY 12222
dlafond@albany.edu
518 442-3599