Achievement and Distinguished Service Awards

Image of Loretta Parham, 2017 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year, receiving her award at the 2017 ACRL Conference in Baltimore

ACRL's Awards program will be on hold for the 2021-2022 award season, during which time nominations will not be accepted or juried and no recipients will be chosen for any ACRL awards. For more information, please contact Lauren Carlton.

Achievement and distinguished service awards honor academic and research librarians for significant past achievements, such as publications, program development, or general leadership in the profession. Awards include a citation and may include a monetary prize.


Division Awards

Link to Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award
Sponsored by GOBI Library Solutions from EBSCO

Recognizes an outstanding member of the library profession who has made a significant national or international contribution to academic or research librarianship and library development.

Link to Excellence in Academic Libraries Awards
Sponsored by GOBI Library Solutions from EBSCO

Recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of the librarians and library staff of a community college, college, and university library each year.

Links to Hugh C. Atkinson Memorial Award
Jointly sponsored by ACRL and Core

Recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of library automation or library management as well as contributions (including risk taking) toward the improvement of library services or to library development or research.


Section Awards

Links to CLS Innovation in College Librarianship Award
Sponsored by SCELC

Recognizes college librarians and staff who demonstrate innovation in their library.

Links to CJCLS EBSCO Community College Learning Resources Program Award
Sponsored by EBSCO Information Services

Recognizes significant achievement in the area of community college programs.

Links to CJCLS EBSCO Community College Learning Resources Leadership Award
Sponsored by EBSCO Information Services

Recognizes significant achievement in the areas of community college leadership.

Links to Routledge Distance Learning Librarianship Conference Sponsorship Award
Sponsored by Routledge/Taylor & Francis

Honors any individual ACRL member working in the field of, or contributing to the success of, distance learning librarianship or related library service in higher education.

Links to EBSS Distinguished Education and Behavioral Sciences Librarian Award
Sponsored by the American Psychological Association

Honors a distinguished academic librarian who has made an outstanding contribution as an education and/or behavioral sciences librarian through accomplishments and service to the profession.

Links to Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award
Sponsored by the Instruction Section

Recognizes an individual librarian who has made an especially significant contribution to the advancement of instruction in a college or research library environment.

Links to Instruction Section Innovation Award
Sponsored by EBSCO Information Services

Recognizes a project that demonstrates creative, innovative, or unique approaches to information literacy instruction or programming.

Links to PPIRS Marta Lange/SAGE-CQ Press Award
Sponsored by SAGE-CQ Press

Recognizes an academic or law librarian who, through research, service to the profession, or other creative activity, makes distinguished contributions to bibliography and information service in law or political science.

Links to STS Innovation in Science and Technology Librarianship Award
This award is currently on hold, pending sponsorship approval.

Recognizes creative, innovative approaches to solving problems or improving products and services in science and technology librarianship.

Links to ULS Outstanding Professional Development Award
Sponsored by Library Juice Academy

Recognizes librarians, archivists or curators whose contributions to providing professional development opportunities for librarians have been especially noteworthy or influential.

Links to WGSS Career Achievement in Women & Gender Studies Librarianship Award
Sponsored by Duke University Press

Honors a distinguished academic librarian who has made outstanding contributions to women and gender studies through accomplishments and service to the profession.

Links to WGSS Significant Achievement in Women & Gender Studies Librarianship Award
Sponsored by Duke University Press

Honors a distinguished academic librarian who have made significant one-time contributions to women and gender studies through accomplishments and service to the profession.


*Please note that monetary award amounts are subject to change without notice and are contingent upon donor funding supplied at the time the award is presented. Questions about these awards should be directed to the committee chairperson or to Lauren Carlton at lcarlton@ala.org.