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An annual award presented by School Library Journal (SLJ) and sponsored by Scholastic Book Fairs and Scholastic Digital Solutions(See eligibility requirements, judging criteria, and application process below)
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2020 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
2018 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
- Appalachian Trailblazer: Ali Schilpp, SLJ's 2018 School Librarian of the Year
- Bay Bridge Builder: Cassy Lee, SLJ's 2018 Champion of Student Voice
- World Class: SLJ's 2018 Champion of Civic Engagement Michelle Carton
2017 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
- Meet Tamiko Brown, SLJ’s 2017 School Librarian of the Year
- Make, Write, Excel: Alisha Wilson, 2017 Maker Hero
- Attuned to Equity: April Wathen, 2017 Hero of Equitable Access
- “Liz the Librarian:” Liz Phipps Soeiro, 2017 Hero of Family Outreach
- Get on the Bus! Jan Wilson, 2017 Hero of Collaboration
On Scholastic:
- School Library Journal and Scholastic Announce 2017 School Librarian of the Year | Scholastic Media Room
- Announcing the 2017 School Librarian of the Year Award winners! | On Our Minds
2016 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
- Yes, He Can! Todd Burleson, SLJ’s 2016 School Librarian of the Year
- Creating a Safe Space: Anita Cellucci, 2016 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
- Unstoppable Ambassador: Laura Gardner, 2016 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
On EDU@Scholastic:
- Three Reasons School Librarians Should Use Twitter by Todd Burleson
- The School Library as a Safe Space by Anita Cellucci
- The Super Social Library by Laura Gardner
Scholastic Librarians on Facebook:
- Librarian Spotlight: Laura Gardner
- Librarian Spotlight: Anita Cellucci
- Librarian Spotlight: Todd Burleson
2015 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
- Meet Kristina Holzweiss, SLJ’s 2015 School Librarian of the Year
- Nashville’s Pride: Lakisha Brinson, 2015 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
- Cultivating Passions: Sally Smollar, 2015 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
On EDU@Scholastic:
- My Story: From a Job Cut to Becoming School Librarian of the Year by Kristina Holzweiss
- School Librarians Open a World of Possible for Students by Sally Smollar
- Embracing Change: Creating a Need-Based School Library is Not One-Size-Fits-All by Lakisha Brinson
Scholastic Librarians on Facebook:
- Librarian Spotlight: Kristina Holzweiss
- Librarian Spotlight: Sally Smollar
- Librarian Spotlight: Lakisha Brinson
Scholastic Reads Podcast:
- Librarians: Making Hearts Large Through Story, Interview with Kristina Holzweiss
Scholastic Administrator:
- A “Making” Manifesto by Kristina Holzweiss
2014 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
- Meet Michelle Colte, SLJ's 2014 School Librarian of the Year
- Expecting the Miraculous: Andy Plemmons, 2014 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
- The Whole School is her Classroom: Colleen Graves, 2014 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR IN THE NEWS
The Library Voice:
The Chicago Tribune:
Kenosha News:
South Coast Today:
Dartmouth Week:
- What’s new at the Dartmouth Middle School library? (Laura Gardner)
Wicked Local – Shrewsbury:
SLJ ARTICLES BY & ABOUT SCHOOL LIBRARIANS OF THE YEAR & FINALISTS
- Catching Up With SLJ’s School Librarians of the Year and Honorees
- Watch: Here's What Our School Librarians of the Year Are Planning for the New School Year
- String Theory: Projects that Merge Math, Art, and Making by Todd Burleson
- STEAM Project Recipes: Insta-Robots and Sewing Art by Todd Burleson
- At the Intersection of Libraries and Museums by Kristina Holzweiss
- “We Get Long Island School Librarians Hooked On Making!” by Kristina Holzweiss
- Reflections On the National Week of Making by Kristina Holzweiss
- The Best of Toy Fair 2016 for Maker Spaces by Kristina Holzweiss
- The Best in Making and Tech at Toy Fair 2017 by Kristina Holzweiss
- Teaching Information Literacy Now by Laura Gardner
- How To Run a Library Volunteer Program that Students Love by Laura Gardner
- Three Rules for a Fabulous Summer Reading Program by Laura Gardner
- School Librarian of the Year Finalists Leverage ESSA in MA by Laura Gardner & Anita Cellucci
- How My School Embraces Social Emotional Learning by Anita Cellucci
The School Librarian of the Year Award honors a K–12 library professional for outstanding achievement and the exemplary use of 21st-century tools and services to engage children and teens toward fostering multiple literacies.
2020 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be considered, applicants must meet state requirements for school library media certification and be currently employed in a media specialist, teacher librarian or equivalent position. They can be working in either a public or private school at a site level—supervisors or managers of library programs (including at a district or regional level) are not eligible. The winning school librarian will receive:
- $2,500 cash award and $2,500 in-kind digital and/or print products for their library.
- A Scholastic Book Fairs “Mr. Schu's Picks” collection of books.
- A visit from John Schumacher, Ambassador of School Libraries, Scholastic, including a book giveaway for every student in the school.
- An invitation to participate in a 2020 Scholastic Book Fairs Summer Reading Summit (including airfare, one night hotel stay and summit registration)
- A feature profile in the April 2020 issue of SLJ.
Previous applicants who have not yet received the award are encouraged to apply again.
2020 JUDGING & CRITERIA
A panel comprised of SLJ editors; John Schumacher, Ambassador of School Libraries, Scholastic; Ali Schilpp, 2018 School Librarian of the Year; and a school administrator will judge nominations per the following criteria:
- Exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and school community
- Creativity in programming and use of content
- Collaboration with teacher peers, staff, and administrators
- Effective integration of library services with curricula
- Demonstrated student engagement
- Exemplary use of technology tools
- Outreach to parents, families
- Effective promotion of the library and what it offers
2020 APPLICATION PROCESS
A written statement of up to two pages describing the award nominee and the services implemented must demonstrate how the librarian’s accomplishments fulfill the award criteria above. Provide context regarding the school and its library, including:
- A description of library services and how they are delivered (i.e. scheduling)
- The size and makeup of library media center resources, including staff
- Budget information (school and library, and technology funding)
- The physical plant (include approximate square footage of library)
- Student demographics
- A description of the community served
- Two letters of recommendation must also accompany the application.
Photographs, video, links, including related blog posts and press coverage, and other supportive material, may also be submitted but will be considered supplementary.
Applicants can nominate themselves. Supporters (i.e. administrators, peers, institutions) can also nominate a librarian for the award. But due to the responsibilities of the winner (the production of related content for SLJ), the nominee must be aware of the application and attendant responsibilities of participation.
All required application elements, including both recommendation letters, must be emailed in one submission to sljlibrarianoftheyear@mediasourceinc.com. Required elements sent separately will result in an incomplete application, which will render them ineligible.
2020 KEY DATES
- Nominations open: September 3, 2019
- Nominations close: December 2
- Winner announced: March 2020
- Winner profiled in SLJ: April 2020
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