ALA seeks nominations of outstanding librarians

Know a librarian who goes above and beyond to connect patrons to information, educational opportunities and critical technology?

The American Library Association is asking library users to nominate their favorite librarians for the national I Love My Librarian Award.

The award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college or university libraries.

Nominations are being accepted online now through Oct. 21 at ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian.

Ten librarians will receive $5,000 each, a plaque and a travel stipend to attend the I Love My Librarian Award ceremony Jan. 25, 2020, during the association's Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Philadelphia.

Among last year's award winners was Lindsey Tomsu, a teen librarian with the Algonquin Area Public Library District. She was nominated by the teen advisory boards at Algonquin and at her previous library in La Vista, Nebraska, for helping teens' voices be heard, providing a welcoming atmosphere and serving as a friend, mentor and older sister. She was the first winner from Illinois.

To be eligible, nominees must hold a master's degree in library and information studies from a program accredited by the American Library Association 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. They also must work in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college, or university, or at an accredited K-12 school.

Since the award was established in 2008, 110 librarians have received the honor out of more than 19,000 nominees nationwide.

The award is sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York, the New York Public Library and The New York Times.