A library media center in Vernon Hills, Illinois—just north of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Chicago home—has been named National School Library of the Year.
Earlier this month, the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL), a division of ALA, announced that Vernon Hills High School was the recipient of the 2026 National School Library of the Year (NSLY) Award. The award honors a school library that exemplifies the implementation of AASL’s National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. Vernon Hills High School will receive a crystal obelisk—the symbol of school library excellence—and $10,000 toward its school library.
The library’s visionary nature was a guiding principle that led to the honor.
“Vernon Hills High School exemplifies the future of school librarianship,” said AASL president Amanda Kordeliski. “This school library demonstrates how libraries can serve as instructional partners, innovation hubs, and welcoming spaces that support both academic achievement and student well-being.”
Under the leadership of librarian Monica Caldicott, the school library media center (LMC) has become a dynamic learning hub that goes far beyond checking out materials. It provides equitable access to the resources and guidance students need, whether it be conducting research, exploring global issues, or finding a quiet space for reflection. Through focused instruction in research strategies, source evaluation, and inquiry-based learning, the library ensures every student is supported and challenged, according to school superintendent Marc Schaffer.
For students at Vernon Hills High School, the library’s recognition is well deserved.
“Every morning when I walk into the LMC, I see students crafting, laughing, reading, studying, and relaxing,” said Grace Pyo, a junior at Vernon Hills High School. “For me, the library is my second home. It became that because of the connections I’ve made with the staff, who make the space feel safe and supportive.”
Amelie Stanis, also a junior at Vernon Hills, added, “There are literal windows and mirrors reflecting the metaphors that a book is either a glance into the soul of another or a glimpse of one like your own that books let us see into others or ourselves… A glance around the library shows its true wonder: a place where all kinds of people come together with one shared purpose—the pursuit of knowledge.”
The AASL award winners will be recognized during the 2027 AASL National Conference, October 14-16 in Portland, Oregon.
Witness Vernon Hills High School library’s excitement at winning the award below.
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Photo: Staff and students in Vernon Hills High School’s Library Media Center, courtesy of Community High School District 128’s Facebook.
