American Library Association Announces I Love My Librarian Awards

Winners exemplify the invaluable role librarians play within their communities, schools and campuses

NEW YORK – A member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe from Montana, a rural community college librarian from North Carolina, and a Pennsylvania advocate for immigrants and refugees are among the ten winners of the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award, the American Library Association announced today. Recipients were chosen from more than 1,000 nominations from library users nationwide who submitted compelling stories that showcased how their local librarians have profoundly improved lives within their community.

Among this year’s I Love My Librarian Award recipients are an academic librarian who provides students with free access to textbooks, food and toiletries; public librarians who assist new Americans while battling bigotry and cultural invisibility; and a school librarian who drives students who can’t afford transportation to school.

“Our nation’s librarians work tirelessly and selflessly to better lives in their communities,” said American Library Association President Loida Garcia-Febo. “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to this year’s I Love My Librarian Award recipients. I stand in awe of their contributions to transforming lives through courage, empathy and compassion. Thank you for your noble work and civic mindedness.”

2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the I Love My Librarian Award, which honors librarians who go above and beyond traditional library service. This coveted award was established in 2008 and recognizes outstanding public service that has transformed lives through education and lifelong learning. The ALA has received thousands of nominations over the decade, but only 110 librarians have received this distinguished honor.

Tonight, each winning librarian will receive a $5,000 prize at an award ceremony and reception in New York City. The ceremony is hosted by award co-sponsors Carnegie Corporation of New York, The New York Public Library, and The New York Times. The ALA will offer a Facebook live stream of the event beginning at 5 p.m. ET at @AmericanLibraryAssociation.

Award recipients include four academic librarians, three public librarians and three school librarians. This year’s winners are:

Ginny Blackson
James E. Brooks Library
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington

Joy Bridwell
Stone Child College Library
Box Elder, Montana

Tamara Cox
Wren High School
Piedmont, South Carolina

Nancy Daniel
Western Piedmont Community College Library
Morganton, North Carolina

Jennifer Berg Gaither
Baltimore City College
Baltimore, Maryland

Terri Gallagher
Community College of Beaver County Library
Monaca, Pennsylvania

Paula Kelly
Whitehall Public Library
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stephanie Hartwell-Mandella
Katonah Village Library
Town of Bedford, New York

Linda Robinson
Mansfield Middle School
Mansfield, Connecticut

Lindsey Tomsu
Algonquin Area Public Library District
Algonquin, Illinois

For more information regarding the 2018 I Love My Librarian Award recipients, please visit www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian . For event highlights and additional information regarding this year’s winners and the importance of their work in the community please follow #ILoveMyLibrarian. Share the word by reposting from our social media pages on Twitter and Facebook.

Photos of the award recipients are available at https://bit.ly/2JPOfZp .

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 “to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, education and knowledge, and a strong democracy.

About The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.

About the American Library Association
American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org. To contribute to support ALA’s work, visit ala.org/donate.