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.
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 library media from an educational unit accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Nominees for the 2026 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, 2025.
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Cindy Hohl
Immediate Past President
American Library Association
Becky Calzada
Immediate Past President
American Association of School Librarians
Leo S. Lo
Immediate Past President
Association of College & Research Libraries
Michael Lambert
Immediate Past President
Public Library Association
Caryl Matute
Vice President, Branch Libraries and Patron Services
New York Public Library
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