ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award
The ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award recognizes academic librarians and staff who work together as a team to develop academic libraries that are outstanding in furthering the educational missions of their institutions.
Award
A certificate for the award recipient. Further recognition of award recipients will be made at the ACRL President's Program at the annual ALA conference.
Criteria
Demonstrate how academic librarians and staff work together to develop an academic library that is outstanding in advancing the mission of its parent institution. Libraries should demonstrate excellence through one or more of the following criteria. Applicants do not necessarily need to demonstrate excellence in all of these categories for consideration.
- Advancement of Institutional Mission: Demonstrates a deep understanding of the institution's mission, values, and strategic goals, with evidence of how the library advances these.
- Impact: Demonstrates work that is connected to successfully meeting needs of stakeholders. Impacts may be ongoing or short-term.
- Initiative: Demonstrates leadership in developing and implementing exemplary programs within the scope of institutional missions and resources.
- Innovation: Demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness in meeting the needs of their community.
- Collaboration: Demonstrates that achievements are the result of a collaborative approach in which the library’s successes are the result of teamwork.
The Awards Committee has developed a rubric to narrow the pool of nominations and provide guidance during the committee's selection process.
The award is open to:
- Community and Junior College Libraries – Libraries and learning resource centers in two-year institutions, offering two-year degrees, associate degrees, adult education, and certifications.
- College Libraries – Libraries primarily within baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. Four-year degree programs are prominent, although a small number of master’s or doctoral level degrees may be offered.
- University Libraries – Libraries within universities that offer baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
- Non-Degree Granting / Other Research Libraries – Libraries within institutions or organizations with significant research and educational missions, where the institution or organization does not offer formal degrees.
Submissions
Submissions are now closed. Submissions were accepted through December 12, 2025. Nominees will be notified in Spring 2026.
Electronic submissions are required. Applicants must complete and upload all supporting documents to the online application form. The application form must be completed in its entirety and applications must be received by the award deadline to receive full consideration. Application receipt will be confirmed upon submission. Please note: applications may not exceed 50MB.
View the full award committee roster here.
Information & Assistance
For answers to frequently asked questions, refer to our FAQ page.
Questions should be directed to ACRL staff, acrlawards@ala.org
This award is administered by the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award Committee.
Previous Recipients
2021
College: Davidson College
Community College: Tulsa Community College
University: Loyola Marymount University
2020
College: Nevada State College
Community College: Santa Rosa Junior College
University: University of Maryland
2019
College: Swarthmore College
Community College: The College of Western Idaho
University: Case Western Reserve University
2018
College: SUNY Geneseo
Community College: Naugatuck Valley Community College
University: Virginia Commonwealth University
2017
College: Columbia College Chicago
Community College: Miami Dade College
University: Santa Clara University
2016
College: Macalester College
Community College: Hudson County Community College
University: Atlanta University Center
2015
College: Amherst College
Community College: Santa Fe College
University: Purdue University
2014
College: Lafayette College
Community College: Illinois Central College
University: Cal Poly State University
2013
College: Rollins College
Community College: Walla Walla Community College
University: Villanova University
2012
College: Champlain College
Community College: Seattle Central Community College
University: Grand Valley State University
2011
College: Grinnell College
Community College: Santa Barbara City College
University: Wake Forest University
2010
College: Elmhurst College
Community College: Bucks County Community College
University: Indiana University Bloomington
2009
College: Hollins University
Community College: Moraine Valley Community College
University: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
2008
College: Carleton College
Community College: Pasadena City College
University: McMaster University
Announcement | Chronicle Announcement
2007
College: Trinity University
Community College: Hostos Community College/CUNY
University: Georgia Institute of Technology
2006
College: Augustana College (see also: Augustana College Press Release)
Community College: No Community College recipient
University: Rochester Institute of Technology
2005
College: Mount Holyoke College (see also: Mount Holyoke College Press Release)
Community College: Pierce College (see also: Pierce College Winner's Report)
University: University of Virginia (see also: University of Virginia Press Release)
2004
College: Hope College (see also: Hope College Award Presentation)
Community College: Richland College
University: University of Washington (see also: University of Washington President's Letter)
2003
College: Baruch College
Community College: City College of San Francisco (see also: City College of San Francisco Award Presentation)
University: Loyola University New Orleans (see also: Loyola University New Orleans Provost Letter)
2002
College: Oberlin College
Community College: Anne Arundel Community College
University: Cornell University
2001
College: Earlham College
Community College: Austin Community College
University: University of Arizona
2000
College: Wellesley College
Community College: The College of DuPage
University: North Carolina State University
