Jane Hammons chosen as the 2025 recipient of the LIRT Librarian Recognition Award

CHICAGO — The Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) of the American Library Association has chosen Jane Hammons, Associate Professor and Teaching & Learning Engagement Librarian, as the 2025 recipient of the LIRT Librarian Recognition Award. The award was created to recognize an individual’s contribution to the development, advancement and support of information literacy and instruction.

Hammons received her Master of Science in Information Sciences from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2008. Hammons has had roles in reference and instruction at the University of Pikeville and Northern Kentucky University before coming to The Ohio State University in 2019, where she currently provides leadership for faculty development.

Hammons created a teaching endorsement program called Teaching Information Literacy through the Drake Institute for Teaching & Learning that provides instructors training on incorporating information literacy in their instruction leading to a professional development teaching endorsement. Hammons has also hosted numerous webinars related to library instruction via her Information Literacy Virtual Workshop series, expanding the reach of her professional development offerings to librarians and educations everywhere.

In describing what the award means to her, Hammons said, "I am so excited to have been selected for the 2025 LIRT Librarian Recognition Award. It is an honor to join the group of amazing librarians who have won this award in previous years. I have the great fortune of having a job that I really love to do, and it makes me so happy that others find my work to be valuable. In accepting this award, I would like to acknowledge the incredible support of my librarian friends across the country and my colleagues within The Ohio State University Libraries, especially my supervisor, Dr. Amanda Folk. I know that without their help and encouragement, I would not be in a position to receive this award.”

The Library Instruction Round Table was started in 1977 with the intent to bring together librarians who provide library instruction across all types of libraries–academic, public, school, and special. 2025 marks the 12th year the Librarian Recognition Award has been awarded. Jane Hammons will be presented with a $1,000 cash prize, $500 stipend to attend an awards ceromny in her honor, and a plaque commemorating the award. She will be honored during a ceremony at the ALA Annual Conference in Philidelphia, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, June 29 at 4 to 5:50 p.m.

Visit LIRT's webpage to find out more about LIRT, its mission, and the awards.

The LIRT Librarian Recognition Awards Subcommittee included Kimberly Shotick of Northern Illinois University (chair), Kelly Banyas of Washington College, Ielleen Miller of Eastern Washington University, and Alex Mitchell of Texas A&M University.

ABOUT 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.