In the two years since Valerie Gross became director of the Howard County Library (HCL), it has won the county's Community Organization of the Year award, its Accessibility Award, and its Chamber of Commerce's Non-Profit Business of the Year ACE award for contributions to education, economic development, and quality of life. And for the first time, a librarian, the head of youth services, won the County Chamber of Commerce's Educator of the Year Award. These successes stem, in part, from Gross's belief that librarians must seize every opportunity to make themselves visible. She and her staff serve on committees and boards, participate in local organizations, attend meetings and events, and accept every speaking invitation they get. "Effective public relations maximizes awareness of and participation in library services and programs, garners respect in the eyes of the community, and bolsters funding," Gross says. The success also comes from Gross's ability to build partnerships with other institutions. She's nationally known for her "A+ Partners in Education" initiative. Working with the county school superintendent, she met with all school principals and media specialists and convinced them of the mutual benefits they would gain from working together.What the schools gain is extended access to library databases, training for teachers and students, and in-school library programs and book discussions. Students gain online tutoring through the library's Live Homework Help service, which makes available specialists in math, social studies, science, and English. Students also benefit from prepared librarians who have received assignment alerts from teachers. The library's return is a splendid opportunity to show these students (and future voters) that the library is valuable and values them.