2026 ALA EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award Winner- Olympic Library Leadership Incubator

CHICAGO —The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce that the 2026 ALA EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award has been awarded to the Washington Library Association (WLA) for the Olympic Library Leadership Incubator (OLLI) program, recognizing outstanding continuing education that strengthens advocacy skills among school library staff and amplifies impact on behalf of school library services throughout the state of Washington. The award consists of $3,500 and a gold-framed citation.  It is given to a library organization whose application demonstrates the greatest merit for a staff development program which furthers the goals and objectives of the library organization.

Washington state faces an urgent staffing and equity challenge: 60% of school districts employ zero certificated teacher-librarians, leaving many students without consistent access to information literacy instruction and robust library services. Now entering its third year, OLLI was designed to address this crisis by building sustainable advocacy capacity—preparing teacher-librarians to communicate the value of strong school library programs to administrators, community stakeholders, and policymakers.

OLLI is a year-long professional learning and advocacy incubator for school library professionals in Washington State. The 2026–2027 program cycle runs from May 1, 2026, through May 1, 2027, and combines in-person learning, virtual collaboration, and cohort-based projects to strengthen local leadership while contributing to statewide advocacy.

Participants analyze Washington data, develop leadership action plans, practice advocacy skills, and create tangible tools and resources that benefit both local communities and statewide efforts.

Program outcomes demonstrate meaningful growth in confidence and capability. Post-program surveys show 94% of participants feel more empowered to advocate for school libraries, and 83% rate their experience as “Excellent.” Participants describe reduced professional isolation, increased confidence, and expanded networks—key factors in sustaining leadership in a challenging professional landscape.

OLLI’s reach extends beyond each cohort of approximately 25–30 participants per year. Participants contribute to the #K12Librarians4AllWA advocacy initiative, engage with the State Board of Education, present at conferences, and mentor colleagues—creating a ripple effect that ultimately supports thousands of Washington students. Three participants from OLLI’s first two cohorts have joined the WLA School Library Division leadership team, underscoring the incubator’s role in building a durable leadership pipeline.

About the ALA EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award

The EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award is sponsored by EBSCO Information Services. EBSCO is a leading provider of online research content and search technologies serving academic, school and public libraries; healthcare and medical institutions; corporations; and government agencies around the world.

This prestigious award recognizes a library organization for an outstanding staff development program that advances continuing education and strengthens the profession through effective learning opportunities. The 2026 EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Award will be presented at the ALA Award’s Program during the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

Members of the 2026 EBSCO Information Services Library Staff Development Jury are: Chair; Kimberly Copenhaver, Director, Anne T. & Robert M. Bass Library and Director, Yale Access & Public Services, Yale University Library; Tamika Barnes, Associate Dean, Perimeter Library Services, Georgia State University; Michelle Brown, Librarian, Tidewater Community College; Marilynn Lewicki, Library Technical Assistant, Greenwich Library; Juliana Nykolaiszyn, Associate Dean, Library Operations, Oklahoma State University Edmon Low Library

About the Washington Library Association

The Washington Library Association is a statewide professional association that supports and advocates for libraries and library workers across Washington. Through professional learning, leadership development, and public advocacy, WLA advances equitable access to information and strong library service for all communities.

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 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.