91´«Ã½

CHICAGO – Tyler Magill of the Alderman Library at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, is the recipient of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) Paul Howard Award for Courage. The $1,000 award and citation honors a librarian, library board, library group or an individual who has exhibited unusual courage for the benefit of library programs or services.

The award will be presented at the Award Reception and Ceremony during the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

A stacks liaison at UVA's Alderman Library. Magill is recognized for his actions on the night of Aug. 11, 2017, during the “Unite the Right” rally on campus. He joined students at the Jefferson statue to help protect them from violence. They linked arms while being surrounded by white supremacists who were carrying torches and chanting “Jews will not replace us.” Unfortunately, violence did break out and Magill was injured and suffered a stroke on the following Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. His actions, both on the night of the 11th and during counterprotests throughout the weekend demonstrated his willingness and ability to face adversity and danger with resolve.

In the words of Paul Howard himself, courage is “the quality of mind which enables one to face adversity, difficulty, or danger with resolution and fortitude . . . it is that characteristic which enables librarians to seek the achievement of goals in spite of all opposing forces." Jury chair Laurel Bliss states that Magill's "resolution to openly face the adversity within the context of the Charlottesville white supremacist rally made him a strong candidate for this particular award."

Members of the 2019 Paul Howard Award for Courage jury committee are: Laurel Bliss, chair, San Diego State University Library, San Diego; Sharon Edwards, Motlow State Community College McMinnville Center, McMinnville, Tennessee; Brian Rogers, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Linda Weatherspoon, Wentzville, Missouti; and Becca Worthington, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC.

For more information on the and other 91´«Ã½ awards, please visit