Jessica Gleason
Bookmobile Librarian
Wailuku Public Library Holoholo Bookmobile
Wailuku, Hawaii
In August 2023, wildfires tore through western Maui, killing more than 100 people and devastating the island town of Lahaina. More than 2,200 structures were destroyed—most of them residential—and the town was left without its library. Then Jessica Gleason rolled in with the Holoholo Bookmobile.
In less than a month after the fires, Gleason established services for the affected area, seeking locations where the bookmobile could reach the most people. She worked with shopping centers, schools, churches, hotels, and government officials to provide books, internet access, programming, and essentials such as meals and clothing for families in need.
From keiki storytimes in Napili Park and the district court building’s multipurpose room to bringing materials to senior housing centers and the Maui Community Correctional Center, Gleason has grown to know her patrons and anticipate their needs. While families continue to grieve and many still live in temporary housing, Gleason and her bookmobile—decked out in colorful art, a bright yellow awning, and full shelves—have provided joy and a sense of normalcy.
“Amid all the uncertainty, fear, and grief in the aftermath of Maui’s 2023 wildfires, Jessica has been a steadying presence and force for positive action among her colleagues and her community members," one of her nominators wrote. “And she continues to work in and with Maui’s West Side community, developing connections that are helping so many heal and grow beyond their tragic losses.”
Gleason was selected from nearly 1,300 nominations from library users nationwide for the 2025 award. As part of her award, she will receive a $5,000 cash prize as well as complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend ALA's LibLearnX event in Phoenix.
The I Love My Librarian Award is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional support from the New York Public Library, and is administered by the American Library Association. Since 2008, library users have shared more than 24,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond to promote literacy, expand access to technology, and support diversity and inclusion in their communities.