Awards (Professional Recognition)

Rainbow and Government Documents Round Tables announce Larry Romans Mentorship Award

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Rainbow and Government Documents Round Tables (RRT and GODORT) are proud to announce Debbie Rabina as the 2023 recipient of the Larry Romans Mentorship Award. 

Sheila Michaels named YALSA’s 2023 MAE Award winner

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has awarded Sheila Michaels, Library Media Specialist at Nixa High School in Nixa Missouri, its’ 2023 Margaret A. Edwards (MAE) Award for Best Literature Program for Teens for her Program BookBag, a community summer outreach initiative. Michaels will receive a $500 award for herself and an additional $500 for her library.

Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table announces 2023 Distinguished Librarian Award

CHICAGO - Evelyn Shimazu Yee, Associate Professor, Research & Instruction Librarian, Head of Library Community Relations, and Curator in Special Collections at Azusa Pacific University Marshburn Memorial Library, is the recipient of the 2023 American Library Association (ALA) Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) Distinguished Librarian Award. Founded in 1982, EMIERT serves as a source of information for recommended ethnic and multilingual collections, services, and programs.

Stephen Hearn Awarded 2023 Margaret Mann Citation

Stephen Hearn has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Margaret Mann Citation, sponsored by OCLC and Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. He is retired from the position of Metadata Strategist in the Technical Services Department, University Libraries at the University of Minnesota.

2023 AASL Research Grants Awarded

CHICAGO – Three research papers have been awarded the 2023 American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Research Grants by the Educators of School Librarians Section (ESLS) of AASL. Sponsored by ABC-CLIO, the grants recognize excellence in manuscripts addressing a persistent and recurring challenge in the field of school librarianship. Each grant consists of a $350 award and the researchers will present their papers at the 2023 AASL National Conference in Tampa, Florida.

Recipients of the 2023 AASL Research Grants are:

West Maple Elementary School named National School Library of the Year

CHICAGO – West Maple Elementary School, located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is the recipient of the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) 2023 National School Library of the Year (NSLY) Award. Sponsored by Follett, the NSLY Award annually honors a school library that exemplifies the implementation of AASL's National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. West Maple Elementary will receive a crystal obelisk – the symbol of school library excellence – and $10,000 toward its school libraries.

Five projects receive 2023 AIA/ALA Library Building Award

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Library Association (ALA) are awarding five libraries with the 2023 AIA/ALA Library Building Award for excellence in architectural design.

Jim Neal receives 2023 John Ames/Humphry/OCLC/ Forest Press Award

CHICAGO — James (Jim) Neal is this year’s recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) International Relations Committee’s John Ames/Humphry/OCLC/ Forest Press Award.

OCLC/Forest Press donated the cash award of $1,000, which is given to an individual for significant contribution to international librarianship.

“Global Human Rights Research Project” receives AASL Roald Dahl's Miss Honey Social Justice

CHICAGO – The “Global Human Rights Research Project” from Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito, California, is the recipient of the 2023 American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Roald Dahl's Miss Honey Social Justice Award. Sponsored by Penguin Random House, the Roald Dahl Award recognizes collaboration between school librarians and teachers in the instruction of social justice using school library resources.

Molly Dettmann receives AASL Frances Henne Award

CHICAGO – Molly Dettmann, teacher librarian at Norman North High School in Norman, Oklahoma, is the recipient of the 2023 American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Frances Henne Award. Sponsored by Libraries Unlimited, the $1,250 award recognizes a school librarian with five years or less experience who demonstrates leadership qualities with students, teachers, and administrators. The award will enable Dettmann to attend an AASL National Conference for the first time.