Dr. Robbie Barber chosen as the 2026 recipient of the LIRT Librarian Recognition Award

CHICAGO - The Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) is pleased to announce that Dr. Robbie Barber has been selected as the recipient of the 2025-2026 LIRT Librarian Recognition Award. A teacher-librarian at Tucker High School, in Georgia, Dr. Barber exemplifies excellence in instruction and information literacy through her scholarship, innovative programming, and sustained professional leadership at the local, state, and national levels. 

Her published work in Knowledge Quest and Georgia Library Quarterly, along with peer-reviewed book chapters, addresses critical topics such as soft censorship, media literacy, artificial intelligence, and participatory research. In addition to traditional publications, her widely read blog, Tickling Tech, extends her impact by sharing practical, research-informed strategies with educators across the country.

Dr. Barber has created dynamic, replicable programs that model engaging and accessible information literacy instruction. Initiatives such as TigerCon, weekly “Tickling Tech Tuesday” professional development sessions, passive media literacy installations, and her low-cost, highly adaptable Information Literacy Night demonstrate her commitment to scalable programming that bridges school and community contexts. Her collaborative work with Dr. Leah Panther at Mercer University further reflects her ability to connect scholarship and practice, including co-authored research, teacher preparation partnerships, and the student-centered TigerTalk podcast. These efforts foreground critical thinking, ethical use of technology, and community engagement while remaining practical for replication across diverse library settings.

A recognized leader in the profession, Dr. Barber serves on state and national committees, including the AASL ABC-CLIO Leadership Award review committee, and is Treasurer of the Friends of the Tucker-Reid Cofer Public Library. She is an active member of the Georgia Library Media Association and the Georgia Library Association and was recently honored as a 2025 GALILEO K–12 Ambassador of the Year. Through her scholarship, mentorship, and servant leadership, Dr. Barber advances information literacy as an intellectually rigorous, community-centered practice. LIRT proudly recognizes her sustained and meaningful contributions to the field.

Upon learning that she had received this award, she said, “I am excited, and a little bit humble, to win the LIRT Librarian Recognition award. Teaching requires collaboration both in the creation of the lesson and the actual delivery.  Finding ways to connect, share, and learn from others is my goal. I am incredibly grateful for my colleagues in DeKalb County, the state of Georgia, and across the U.S. who make these collaborations work.  The Georgia Library Media Association has been instrumental in my growth as a school librarian.”

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. 2026 marks the 13th year the Librarian Recognition Award has been awarded. Dr. Barber will be presented with a $1,500 cash prize, $1000 stipend to attend an awards ceremony in her honor, and a plaque commemorating the award. She will be honored during a ceremony at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m.

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

The LIRT Librarian Recognition Awards Subcommittee includes Monica Latham (Colorado State University) – Chair, Bridet Farrell (University of Denver), Dr. Melissa Ann England (Northern Kentucky University), Melissa Herzberg (University of Alabama), & Tammi Stolte (Strafford Middle School Library)

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 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.