CJCLS Community College Library Leadership Award

Since 1990, the CJCLS Community College Library Leadership Award annually recognizes significant achievement in community college leadership.

From 1990-2021, this award was sponsored by EBSCO with a $750 cash prize to recipients and was known as the CJCLS EBSCO Community College Library Achievement Award. After a hiatus from 2022-2025, the award was relaunched under the new name CJCLS Community College Library Leadership Award in 2026. Monetary prizes are no longer a component for any ACRL professional recognition award. 

Award

The award includes a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Individuals from two-year institutions are eligible to receive the award. Self-nominations are accepted. ALA/ACRL membership is not required for nominees or award recipients. 

Criteria

Achievement could be demonstrated by any of the following:

  • Leadership of a successful program or initiative focused on advancing community college libraries or librarianship
  • A scholarly contribution in the field of community college library research
  • Active mentorship of other community college librarians or staff members
  • Leadership in regional or national library organizations that focus on community college librarianship or a closely related field
  • Lifetime achievement
  • Other examples of leadership not included in this list

Submissions will be reviewed using this rubric established by the ACRL/CJCLS Awards Committee.

Submissions

Submissions are now closed. Submissions were accepted through December 12, 2025. Nominees were notified in Spring 2026. 

Electronic submissions through the online nomination form are required. Nominations should include a narrative letter describing the nominee's achievements and a current vita for the nominee, if desired.

Committee

The award is administered by the Community and Junior College Libraries Section of ACRL and juried by the ACRL/CJCLS Awards Committee.

Information & Assistance

Questions should be directed to ACRL staff, acrlawards@ala.org 

Nominations for the 2027 ACRL Awards will open in Fall 2026. 

Recipients

  • 2026 – Nelson Santana - Press Release
  • 2022-2025 – Hiatus
  • 2021 – Yumi Shin - Award Announcement
  • 2020 – Jean Amaral - Award Announcement
  • 2019 – No recipient
  • 2018 – No recipient
  • 2017 – John Walsh
  • 2016 – Pearl Ly
  • 2015 – Mary Ann Sheble
  • 2014 – David M. Rodriguez
  • 2013 – Linda Baker
  • 2012 – Mary Ann Laun
  • 2011 – Melora P. Mirza
  • 2010 – No recipient
  • 2009 – Kenley Neufeld
  • 2008 – No recipient
  • 2007 – David R. Dowell
  • 2006 – Susan Anderson
  • 2005 – Susan M. Maltese
  • 2004 – Carolyn Norman
  • 2003 – Mary Carr
  • 2002 – Cynthia Steinhoff
  • 2001 – Cary Sowell
  • 2000 – Juanita Karr
  • 1999 – Wanda Johnston Bahde
  • 1998 – Bernard Fradkin
  • 1997 – Gretchen H. Neill
  • 1996 – Margaret A. Holleman
  • 1995 – W. Lee Hisle
  • 1994 – Imogene L. Book
  • 1993 – Gloria Terwilliger
  • 1992 – Paul E. Dumont
  • 1991 – James O. Wallace
  • 1990 – Charles R. Peguese