Press and Media

The I Love My Librarian Award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians.

Each year up to 10 librarians are selected. Each honoree receives a $5,000 cash award in recognition of their outstanding service to their community. They will be honored at an award ceremony during the the American Library Association’s 2026 Annual Conference in Chicago and will receive complimentary conference registration and a travel stipend as part of their prize package.

Since its inception in 2008, library supporters nationwide submitted more than 25,000 nominations for their librarians. A total of 180 librarians have received the award to date.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school librarianship from a program recognized by ALA and the American Association of School Librarians in a regionally accredited institution within an accredited educational unit (see more info). Nominees for the 2027 award must be currently working in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at at library at an accredited K-12 school, or have been working at one of these institutions as of March 1, 2026.

The I Love My Librarian Award is generously sponsored by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation (formerly Carnegie Corporation of New York), with additional support from the New York Public Library. The award is administered by the American Library Association, the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities.