Erin Sniderman named the 2025 winner of ALA’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession

CHICAGO – Erin Sniderman has been named the 2025 winner of ALA’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession. The award, supported by the DiMattia Family, recognizes a librarian who demonstrates leadership in anticipating emerging trends in services, products and technologies that will enhance the library’s position in its community. The winner also participates in the life of the community using membership in and volunteer service through a broad range of community organizations and projects.

Sniderman is being honored for her leadership in expanding the outreach program at Hampton Falls Free Library (HFFL) in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.  In her position as Outreach Librarian, she has been the creative force behind numerous initiatives bringing out-of-the-box thinking and dedication to uniting the community of Hampton Falls.  She also took a leading role in the HFFL strategic planning process.  As part of that plan, Ms. Sniderman has established and expanded contact with town entities, established a common town calendar, and an active partner in a collaboration to celebrate the National Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour.  Ms. Sniderman is also an active grant receiving several grants to support the library’s outreach and programming needs.  She is also writing grants to fund improving access to four town buildings, including the library.

Ms. Sniderman is also a Master Gardener, Horticulturalist and a Certified Environmental Consultant. Using these skills, she is creating a ‘Library Campus” which includes usable outdoor spaces surrounding the library and other town buildings.  Her inspiration is to create greater connections between the town’s natural resources and town residents while creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy in comfort and safety, all while furthering the library’s mission of encouraging curiosity and inquiry.

Ms. Sniderman states that, “The way I approach our programming is to allow a space for people in our community to connect to their neighbors and other members of our community at large. HFFL works to form a community that cares about its community. We need to care about our neighbors, or we all disappear into the background noise.”

The annual award, consisting of $5,000 and a citation of achievement, will be presented at the ALA Annual Conference in June 2025.

Members of the ALA Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession Award Committee are Chair Dr. John Sandstrom, Acquisitions Librarian, New Mexico State University Library, las Cruces, NM; Stephanie Bandel, Coordinator of Resource Management, Woodward Library, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN; Amber Burtis, Health Sciences Librarian, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Carbondale, IL; Janice Flug, Retired; Jennie Pu, Director, Hoboken Public Library, Hoboken, NJ.

More information about the Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession including how to submit a nomination is available at the ALA website (www.ala.org).

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.