Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award
This award 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.
About
First awarded in 1978, the ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year award is a prestigious designation recognizing outstanding achievements among academic or research librarians. Individuals are recognized for service to the profession through ACRL or related organizations, significant and influential research related to academic or research library services, publications or theoretical writings that contribute to academic or research library development, and/or planning and implementing a high-quality academic or research library program. This award was on hiatus from 2022-2025. Nominations for the 2027 ACRL Awards will open in Fall 2026.
Administered by:
Categories:
Professional Recognition Information
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Trevor A. Dawes
2026 - Winner(s) “The committee named Trevor A. Dawes as the 2026 ACRL Academic/Research of the Year in recognition of his extraordinary, career-long service to ACRL and the... |
2026 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Julia M. Gelfand
2021 - Winner(s) “Julia Gelfand, long-time applied science and engineering librarian at the University of California-Irvine, has spent more than four decades shaping research librarianship for the better... |
2021 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
John E. Ulmschneider
2020 - Winner(s) “John E. Ulmschneider’s extraordinary achievements as dean of libraries and university librarian at the Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries led the committee to name him as... |
2020 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kaetrena Davis Kendrick
2019 - Winner(s) “Kaetrena Davis Kendrick is a fully engaged and dedicated professional with her finger on the pulse of some of the most relevant and significant issues... |
2019 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
David W. Lewis
2018 - Winner(s) “David Lewis is a visionary in academic libraries, and he has shared his vision widely over an illustrious career,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Fabbi, chair... |
2018 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Loretta Parham
2017 - Winner(s) “Loretta Parham's drive, activism, and innovative approaches to library transformation have had a broad and sustained impact well beyond our field and she is the... |
2017 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Susan K. Nutter
2016 - Winner(s) |
2016 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Robert A. Seal
2015 - Winner(s) Robert A. Seal 2015 Acceptance Speech: Thank you, Karen and John, and good afternoon everyone. In the fall of 1967 as I was climbing the... |
2015 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Bucknall
2014 - Winner(s) |
2014 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Patricia Iannuzzi
2013 - Winner(s) Patricia Iannuzzi 2013 Acceptance Speech: Well now I know why they play music to nudge award winners off the stage..and why ACRL limits my remarks... |
2013 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Kaufman
2012 - Winner(s) |
2012 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Welburn
2011 - Winner(s) |
2011 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Sullivan
2010 - Winner(s) |
2010 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
St. Clair
2009 - Recipient(s) |
2009 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Hernon
2008 - Recipient(s) |
2008 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Wilson
2007 - Recipient(s) |
2007 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
English
2006 - Recipient(s) |
2006 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sharma
2005 - Recipient(s) |
2005 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kirk
2004 - Recipient(s) |
2004 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Atkinson
2003 - Recipient(s) |
2003 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Phipps
2002 - Recipient(s) |
2002 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardesty
2001 - Recipient(s) |
2001 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Hogan
2000 - Recipient(s) |
2000 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Rader
1999 - Recipient(s) |
1999 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Veaner
1998 - Recipient(s) |
1998 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Neal
1997 - Recipient(s) |
1997 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Russell
1996 - Recipient(s) |
1996 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Boisse
1995 - Recipient(s) |
1995 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Hoadley
1994 - Recipient(s) |
1994 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Moffett
1993 - Recipient(s) |
1993 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Stoffle
1992 - Recipient(s) |
1992 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| DeGennaro
1991 - Recipient(s) |
1991 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Battin
1990 - Recipient(s) |
1990 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| McGowan
1989 - Recipient(s) |
1989 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Holley
1988 - Recipient(s) |
1988 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Webster
1987 - Recipient(s) |
1987 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Beckman
1986 - Recipient(s) |
1986 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Smith
1985 - Recipient(s) |
1985 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson
1984 - Recipient(s) |
1984 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Dougherty
1983 - Recipient(s) |
1983 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Budington
1982 - Recipient(s) |
1982 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Lynch
1981 - Recipient(s) |
1981 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Farber
1980 - Recipient(s) |
1980 - Recipient(s) |
This award recognizes and honors achievement in such areas as:
- Service to the organized profession through the Association of College and Research Libraries and related organizations
- Significant and influential research on academic or research library service
- Publication of a body of scholarly and/or theoretical writing contributing to academic or research library development
- Planning and implementing a library program of such exemplary quality that it has served as a model for others
Electronic submissions through the online nomination form are required. Individuals may nominate themselves or others.
Supporting documents to accompany the nomination form may include:
- A nomination letter describing the nominee’s achievements
- A current CV or résumé for the nominee
- Letters of support
Certificate of recognition
This award is juried by the ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year Award Committee.
