Clara Bohrer is the recipient of the 2025 Joseph W. Lippincott Award

CHICAGO – Clara Bohrer is the recipient of the 2025 Joseph W. Lippincott Award. This award is sponsored by Joseph W. Lippincott III and presented by the American Library Association (ALA) for distinguished service in the profession of librarianship.

The jury for the 2025 Joseph W. Lippincott Award is pleased to honor Bohrer for her many years of outstanding leadership and participation in the activities of the professional library association, and significant contributions to the advancement of the profession’s values and priorities.

Bohrer’s impact on the field of librarianship is far-reaching, with notable contributions such as her leadership role in Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) initiative and her exceptional service to the West Bloomfield Township Public Library in Michigan. Under Bohrer’s guidance, the library earned the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2010, recognizing the library’s extraordinary efforts in supporting youth and fostering meaningful community partnerships.

One of Bohrer’s defining contributions was her involvement in the development and implementation of Every Child Ready to Read curriculum, a groundbreaking initiative that emphasized the importance of early literacy and family engagement and changed practice in our nation's public libraries. This initiative, a joint project between the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Public Library Association (PLA), has been adopted by over 6,000 libraries nationwide. Bohrer served as a key architect of the curriculum, and her ongoing leadership as advocate to initiate and then served as first chair of the PLA Family Engagement Task Force has solidified her position as a pioneer in early childhood literacy.

Bohrer’s work as a leader in ALA’s divisions further demonstrates her deep commitment to the profession. She has served on the boards of three ALA divisions—YALSA, ALSC, and PLA—offering her expertise to shape policies and initiatives that benefit libraries and communities across the country. Her leadership roles include serving as PLA President from 2004 to 2005, as well as a Fiscal Officer for PLA from 2019 to 2025. Bohrer’s service to ALA divisions extends to committee work, including several terms on the PLA Budget and Finance Committee, where she has been instrumental in overseeing the association’s financial health and securing substantial funding for important initiatives. Notably, Bohrer played a key role in the submission of the Legacy grant to the Gates Foundation, which resulted in over $14 million in funding. Involvement in ALA governance includes terms on the ALA

Planning and Budget Assembly, ALA Conference Committee, and the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC). She served as the BARC Chair for 2 years, which is one of the most demanding service contributions to ALA. This role also required her to serve on the ALA Finance and Audit Committee while also making regular reports to the Executive Board and Council. She served on the Operating Agreement Work Group to evaluate the financial relationship between ALA and its divisions. She understood the importance of the role of budget and finance in carrying out association work and goals.

The annual Lippincott Award, consisting of $1,500 and a citation of achievement, will be presented at the ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia in June 2025. Members of the Joseph W. Lippincott Award Jury are Chair, James Neal, University Librarian Emeritus, Columbia University, Mike L. Marlin, Director, California Braille and Talking Book Library; Stacey Nunn, School Library Media Specialist; Baltimore County; Robin Sofge, Branch Manager Prince William Public Libraries; and Shali Zhang, Dean of Libraries, Auburn University

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.