Librarian of the Year Award

These awards continue the tradition of the former NYLA Outstanding Service to Libraries Award. This award cycle began on Wednesday, June 5th, and will close on July 12th.

Academic/Special Librarian of the Year

Purpose

Given to a librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and service within the library community over the past 12 – 18 months. Librarians at any stage in their careers are eligible for this award.

Criteria

• Librarian with an MLS or Professional degree
• Has made a significant contribution by any of the following:
  • Demonstrating the value of academic or special libraries
  • Enhancing the image of academic or special librarians and/or academic or special libraries
  • Promoting an accessible and positive climate in the library
  • Advancing community relations
  • Initiating a new library service or program
• This award will be given to an academic librarian or an individual working to support academic libraries (library school instructors, ESLN director, and staff with MLS/Professional certification)

Recognition

The recipient will receive an engraved plaque and recognition at NYLA’s Annual Conference.

The recipient will be acknowledged at the Awards Banquet at NYLA’s Annual Conference, on NYLA's website, and in the NYLA Voice. A short (2-minute) video about the recipient will be developed for promotion all year.

Past Award Recipients

2024 - Ryan Perry, Central New York Library Resources Council

2023 - Simone Yearwood, Queens College, CUNY 

Public Librarian of the Year

Purpose

Given to a public librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and service within the library community over the past 12 – 18 months. Librarians at any stage in their careers are eligible for this award.

Criteria

• Librarian with an MLS or Professional Degree
• Has made a significant contribution by any of the following:
  • Demonstrating the value of public libraries
  • Enhancing the image of public librarians and/or public libraries
  • Promoting an accessible and positive climate in the library
  • Advancing community relations
  • Initiating a new library service or program
• Those working to support public librarians - MLS program faculty, library system staff
• This award will be given to a public librarian or an individual working to support public libraries (library school instructors, public library system director, and staff with MLS/Professional certification)

Recognition

The recipient will receive an engraved plaque and recognition at NYLA’s Annual Conference.

The recipient will be acknowledged at the Awards Banquet at NYLA’s Annual Conference, on NYLA's website, and in the NYLA Voice. A short (2-minute) video about the recipient will be developed for promotion all year. 

Past Award Recipients

2024 - Brian Hildreth, Southern Tier Library System

2023 - Emily Dowie, Greenburgh Public Library

2022 - Joshua Mitch, Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch Library, Buffalo Erie County Public Library

2021 - Gail Brown, Voorheesville Public Library (Featured in the Altamont Enterprise)

School Librarian of the Year

Purpose

Given to a librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and service within the library community over the past 12 – 18 months. Librarians at any stage in their careers are eligible for this award.

Criteria

• Certified school library media specialist
• Has made a significant contribution by any of the following:
  • Demonstrating the value of school libraries
  • Enhancing the image of school librarians and/or school libraries
  • Promoting an accessible and positive climate in the library
  • Advancing community relations
• Initiating a new library service or program
• This award will be given to a certified school librarian or an individual working to support school librarians (library school instructors, school library system director, and staff with MLS/Professional certification)

Recognition

The recipient will receive an engraved plaque, recognition at NYLA’s Annual Conference and/or NYLA’s Section of School Librarians’ Conference, and recognition in the NYLA Awards Banquet pamphlet.

The recipient will be acknowledged at the Awards Banquet at NYLA’s Annual Conference, on NYLA's website, and in the NYLA Voice. A short (2-minute) video about the recipient will be developed for promotion all year.

Past Award Recipients

2024 - Lauren Ginsberg DeVilbiss, P.S. 28 The Wright Brothers School, Robin Hood Library

2023 - Kristina Holzweiss, Syosset Senior High School

2022 - Beth Cuddy, Auburn High School

2021 - Michell Wright Jumpp, Horizons on the Hudson (Featured in The Today Show)