The American Library Association (ALA) is inviting all library users to nominate their favorite librarians for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. The national award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college, or university libraries who transform communities and improve lives. Nominations are being accepted online now through October 21, 2019.
Ten librarians will receive $5,000, a plaque, and a travel stipend to attend the I Love My Librarian Award ceremony on January 25, 2020, which will take place during ALA’s Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Philadelphia. Last year’s award winners included an academic librarian who stocks the library with nonperishable foods and toiletries for low-income students, a public librarian who created a book project to preserve refugees’ stories, and a school librarian who uses therapy and certified reading dogs to help students who are struggling with anxiety or have disabilities.
Since the award was established in 2008, library users nationwide have shared more than 19,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond to connect them to information, educational opportunities, and critical technology. Over the last decade, only 110 librarians have received this distinguished honor.
To be eligible for the award, each nominee must hold a master’s degree in library and information studies from a program accredited by the ALA or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational program accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nominees must also work in either a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college, or university, or at an accredited K-12 school in the United States.
The philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York sponsors the I Love My Librarian Award. The New York Public Library and the New York Times are co-sponsors of the award. The ALA administers the award through ALA’s Communications and Marketing Office, which promotes the value of libraries and librarians.
