ALA Medal of Excellence
Recognizing outstanding creative leadership.
About
The ALA Medal of Excellence is an annual award recognizing outstanding recent creative leadership, especially in the areas of library management, library training, cataloging and classification, as well as the tools and techniques associated with librarianship.
This award is given each year and comprises a monetary prize of $2,000, accompanied by a citation elegantly framed in 24K gold.
Award name changed in 2020, from the Melvil Dewey Medal to the ALA Medal of Excellence.
Administered by:
Categories:
Details
Frequency: Annual
Sponsors:
Professional Recognition Information
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Janet Hyunju Clarke
2025 - Winner(s) Janet Hyunju Clarke, associate dean of research and learning at the Stony Brook University Libraries, New York, has been awarded the ALA Medal of Excellence... |
2025 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Loida Garcia-Febo
2024 - Winner(s) Loida Garcia-Febo, International Library Consultant, Brooklyn, New York has been awarded the ALA Medal of Excellence Award. This annual award, presented by the American Library... |
2024 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Kelvin Watson
2023 - Winner(s) Kelvin Watson, Executive Director, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has been awarded the ALA Medal of Excellence Award. This annual award, presented by the American... |
2023 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Judith Cannan
2022 - Winner(s) “The jury for the 2022 Medal of Excellence award is delighted to honor Judith Cannan for her many accomplishments during a long, varied and distinguished... |
2022 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| June Garcia
2019 - Winner(s) The jury for the 2019 Melvil Dewey Medal is delighted to honor June Garcia for her many accomplishments during a long, varied and distinguished career... |
2019 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Carla Stoffle
2018 - Winner(s) Stoffle, who spent over 20 years as the dean of Libraries and Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, made significant contributions in... |
2018 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Carla Hayden
2017 - Winner(s) |
2017 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Robert R. Newlen
2016 - Winner(s) “Mr. Newlen has had a long and impressive career at the Library of Congress, evidenced by his recent appointment to the position of chief of staff,” said... |
2016 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Hwa-Wei Lee
2015 - Recipient(s) Among the achievements noted by the Dewey Medal jury and the colleagues who wrote in support of this award are Dr. Lee’s leadership as dean... |
2015 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Robert A. Wolven
2014 - Winner(s) Wolven is a frequent speaker and writer on issues related to digital content, metadata and technical services in libraries and has served on planning and... |
2014 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Beacher J.E. Wiggins
2013 - Winner(s) Among the achievements noted by the Dewey jury and the many colleagues who wrote in support of his award nomination are Wiggins’s oversight in leading... |
2013 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
|
Beverly P. Lynch
2012 - Winner(s) Among the achievements specially noted by the Dewey jury and the many colleagues who wrote in support of this award are Dr. Lynch’s unique role... |
2012 - Winner(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Marcum
2011 - Recipient(s) |
2011 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Schottlaender
2010 - Recipient(s) |
2010 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Neal
2009 - Recipient(s) |
2009 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Nelson
2008 - Recipient(s) |
2008 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas
2007 - Recipient(s) |
2007 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Byrum
2006 - Recipient(s) |
2006 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell
2005 - Recipient(s) |
2005 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| McCallum
2004 - Recipient(s) |
2004 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Smith
2003 - Recipient(s) |
2003 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Williams II
2002 - Recipient(s) |
2002 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Totten
2001 - Recipient(s) |
2001 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Sybrowsky
2000 - Recipient(s) |
2000 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Moeller
1999 - Recipient(s) |
1999 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Tabb
1998 - Recipient(s) |
1998 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Wedgeworth
1997 - Recipient(s) |
1997 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| No awards given
1996 - No Awards Given |
1996 - No Awards Given |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| No awards given
1995 - No Awards Given |
1995 - No Awards Given |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Grisham
1994 - Recipient(s) |
1994 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| No awards given
1993 - No Awards Given |
1993 - No Awards Given |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gorman
1992 - Recipient(s) |
1992 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Rather
1991 - Recipient(s) |
1991 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Schmierer
1990 - Recipient(s) |
1990 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| McClarren
1989 - Recipient(s) |
1989 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Goldhor
1988 - Recipient(s) |
1988 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| White
1987 - Recipient(s) |
1987 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| DeGennaro
1986 - Recipient(s) |
1986 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Howard
1985 - Recipient(s) |
1985 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Haas
1984 - Recipient(s) |
1984 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Holley
1983 - Recipient(s) |
1983 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Vann
1982 - Recipient(s) |
1982 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Avram
1981 - Recipient(s) |
1981 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Stueart
1980 - Recipient(s) |
1980 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Bidlack
1979 - Recipient(s) |
1979 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Kilgour
1978 - Recipient(s) |
1978 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Lubetsky
1977 - Recipient(s) |
1977 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson
1976 - Recipient(s) |
1976 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| No awards given
1975 - No Awards Given |
1975 - No Awards Given |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Downs
1974 - Recipient(s) |
1974 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Jones
1973 - Recipient(s) |
1973 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Orne
1972 - Recipient(s) |
1972 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Welsh
1971 - Recipient(s) |
1971 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Treyz
1970 - Recipient(s) |
1970 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Dix
1969 - Recipient(s) |
1969 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Shera
1968 - Recipient(s) |
1968 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser
1967 - Recipient(s) |
1967 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Morsch
1966 - Recipient(s) |
1966 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Frick
1965 - Recipient(s) |
1965 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Cronin
1964 - Recipient(s) |
1964 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers
1963 - Recipient(s) |
1963 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Carnovsky
1962 - Recipient(s) |
1962 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Pressey
1961 - Recipient(s) |
1961 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Howe
1960 - Recipient(s) |
1960 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Custer
1959 - Recipient(s) |
1959 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Dickson
1958 - Recipient(s) |
1958 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Wright
1957 - Recipient(s) |
1957 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| MacColl
1956 - Recipient(s) |
1956 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Tauber
1955 - Recipient(s) |
1955 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Fussler
1954 - Recipient(s) |
1954 - Recipient(s) |
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Shaw
1953 - Recipient(s) |
1953 - Recipient(s) |
Please complete the online application, including all supporting materials as attachments.
American Library Association
Governance Office
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
312-280-3204
