In 1992 the Executive Council created "The NYSLAA Award for Outstanding Service" specifically for New York State library assistants who are members of NYSLAA. In 1995, its name was changed to honor Craig Koste, a library assistant who passed away and bequeathed an endowment to NYSLAA. The award recognizes those library assistants who have distinguished themselves by their service to our organization and to the library assistants of New York on either a state or local level. A stipend of $100 will be given to the library of the winner for collection development.

In 1989 the Ray Murray Award was created to honor Ray Murray, a librarian who opened the door for the creating of the annual library assistants conference, thereby laying the groundwork for NYSLAA. The Ray Murray Award is given to librarians, library directors, trustees, board members or others who have contributed to the recognition and/or professional growth of library assistants.

Year	Ray Murray Award	Craig Koste Award for Outstanding Service
1989	Janet Steiner - So. Central Regional   Library Council
1991	Sandie Hackett - Alfred University
1992	Janet Selby - SUNY Cortland	Eileen O'Hara - SUNY Brockport
1993	John Hammond - Northern New York   Library Network	Dean Johnston - SUNY Cobleskill
1994	Dick Panz - Monroe County Library System	Ed Gillen - New York State Library
1995	Frank Van Zanten - Mid Hudson Library System Ron Crovisier - Dutchess Community College	Sharon Genaux - Alfred University
1996		Bill Jenkins - Cornell University Douglas Braswell - Columbia University Walter Nickeson - University of Rochester
1997	Betsy Morris	Dorothy Morgan - Liverpool Public Library
1998	Arleen Somerville - University of Rochester Ed Rivenburgh - SUNY Geneseo	Donna Hanna - Geneseo College Sally Sessler - Syracuse University
1999	James J. Simonis - Le Moyne College	Judy Sibio - Liverpool Public Library
2000	Carolyn Vang Schuler - Monroe County Library System	Joseph Valenti - Appellate Division Library
2001	Dave Nuzzo - University at Buffalo	Judith Andrew - Ithaca College
2002	Melanie Battoe & Board of Trustees - Guernsey Memorial Library	Ruth V. Oberg - University at Buffalo
2003	Janet Natalia Stahl - Clarkson University	Vergie Savage-Branch - Weill Cornell University   Medical College
2004	Mary Brown - Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library	Katherine Martel - Rochester Public Library
2005	Kathy Miller - Rochester Regional   Library Council	Sheila Hallahan - Horseheads Free Library Tracy LaBarge - Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library
2006	Metro Library   Resources Council	Karen Ricketson - Plattsburgh Public Library
2007	Elaine Dawson - Newark Public Library	Jane H. McManus - RPL Winton Branch Rita Gregory - City College of New York
2008	Lisa C. Wemett - Webster Public Library	Heidi Jensen - Pioneer Library System
2009	Debby Emerson - Rochester Regional Library   Council (RRLC)	Michele Matthews - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Louise Smith-Jones - St. John's University
2010		Susan Morehead - Guernsey Memorial Library
2011	Goeff Kirkpatrick - Bethlehem Public Library	Coleen Hopkins - SUNY Geneseo
2012	Kathy Metz - University of Rochester	Michele Giuffre - Bethlehem Public Library
2013	Evelyn Butrico - East Greenbush Community Library	Sally McMaster - University of Rochester
2014	Fredrick W. Stoss - University at Buffalo	Darlene Strack - SUNY Plattsburgh
2015	Andrea Gerberg - SUNY College of Oneonta	Sheila Tshudy - Corning Museum of Glass Adrienne Birchler - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
2016	Sheryl Knab - WNY Library Resources Council	Nancy Davis - University at Albany Dawn Gage - SUNY College at Oneonta
2017	Mary Ann Madrinac - University of Rochester	Tammy Southard - SUNY College at Oneonta
2018		Terry Berl - The College at Brockport
2019		Carrie Goetz - University at Buffalo