91´«Ã½

CHICAGO – Today the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) announced 10 winners of the coveted I Love My Librarian Award. Honorees are exceptional librarians from academic, public and school libraries who were nominated by patrons nationwide for their expertise, dedication and profound impact on the people in their communities.

“Even in these unprecedented times, our nation’s librarians continue to empower their patrons, promote inclusion in their space and collections, and provide essential services for their communities,” said 91´«Ã½ President Patty Wong. “Congratulations to this year’s I Love My Librarian Award winners, who impact the lives of those they serve every day.”

91´«Ã½ received more than 1,300 nominations from library users for this year’s award, which demonstrates the breadth of impact of librarians across the country. Hundreds of nominations focused on librarians’ swift and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, from hosting virtual programs to distributing books and technology safely to those in need. This year’s award recipients include three academic librarians, four public librarians and three school librarians.

Honorees will each receive a $5,000 cash prize, a $750 donation to their library, and complimentary registration to 91´«Ã½’s LibLearnX. The virtual award ceremony will take place during the conference at 3:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022 and will be available to stream live at .

The winners are:

Yuliana Aceves

Arlington Public Library, Arlington, Texas

After the library space closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aceves became a bright light for library users in her community. She led weekly virtual programs on the library’s social media platforms, notably her Spanish storytime program for children, keeping library users engaged and connected.

Shamella Cromartie

Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina

Cromartie has made the library at Western Carolina University a leader in diversity and inclusion efforts, notably for her development and implementation of a program that coaches faculty to employ inclusive pedagogy in their courses and provides funding for classroom materials.

William Gibbons

City College of New York, New York City, New York

Gibbons is guiding students to academic success through his service at the City College of New York and across Harlem, notably with his involvement with Harlem Little League Baseball, his forging of partnerships with local organizations, and his work with the City University of New York’s Black Male Initiative.

Renee Greenlee

For her work at Marion Public Library, Marion, Iowa

Following a devastating derecho that affected the entire Marion area and forced the library to permanently close its doors, Greenlee provided vital services to the community, including assessing the structural safety of homes, staffing temporary technology locations across the city, and starting a digital archive to collect and preserve stories of how the community was affected.

Greenlee has currently moved to a position with Vinton Public Library in Vinton, Iowa.

Shannon Horton

Decorah Middle School and High School, Decorah, Iowa

Horton has transformed the libraries at Decorah Middle School and High School into more welcoming environments that encourage reading and collaboration within the student population. She has worked to diversify the collection with the addition of books featuring LGBTQ characters and topics addressing racism and celebrating differences so all students can see themselves represented in the books available in their libraries.

John Paul Mahofski

Eastern Correctional Institution, Westover, Maryland

During his time at Eastern Correctional Institution, Mahofski has introduced an array of programs that have improved library and information services for the prison population he serves, including creative writing, typing and summer reading programs, and a “Bookmobile” to deliver books to and from people in the institution.

Tammi Moe

Octavia Fellin Public Library, Gallup, New Mexico

Through forging partnerships with community organizations and city departments across Gallup, Moe has greatly expanded the library’s reach beyond its walls. Under her leadership, the library has offered educational and thought-provoking programming covering historically sensitive topics to the city’s majority-indigenous American community with a presence at a variety of local events.

George D. Oberle

George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia

A dedicated historian, Oberle has worked to uncover the hidden racial histories of George Mason University and its namesake through his work establishing the university’s Center for Mason Legacies. His work has resulted in numerous educational resources for the campus community, including a memorial in the center of campus recognizing the individuals enslaved by George Mason.

Melissa Pillot

Forsyth School, St. Louis

After joining the Forsyth School, Pillot quickly centered sustainability in the library’s programming and instructional initiatives. Her efforts include storytimes focused on caring for the planet, teaching students to use information literacy strategies to evaluate recycling facts and myths, and planning a multi-week educational event focused on single-use plastics and plastic bag usage.

Arnulfo Talamantes

Sul Ross Middle School, San Antonio, Texas

The culture of reading at Sul Ross Middle School has transformed as a result of Talamantes’ innovative programs and initiatives, notably the Rebel Bucks program that implements a bookstore model under which books can be purchased through campus currency earned through positive behavior in the classroom. Through the program, students are empowered to read independently and build their own libraries at home.

Since the award’s inception in 2008, library users have shared more than 20,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond to promote literacy, expand access to technology, and support diversity and inclusion in their communities. Information regarding previous award winners can be found on the I Love My Librarian website at . 

Carnegie Corporation of New York generously sponsors the I Love My Librarian Award. The New York Public Library also supports the award. 91´«Ã½ administers the award through its Communications and Marketing Office, which promotes the value of libraries and librarians. 

The winners of the I Love My Librarian Award are selected by the I Love My Librarian Award Committee. This year’s committee members include: Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., (Chair), Immediate Past President, 91´«Ã½; Kathy Carroll, Immediate Past President, American Association of School Librarians; Jon E. Cawthorne, Immediate Past President, Association of College & Research Libraries; Melanie Huggins, President, Public Library Association; and Caryl Matute, Senior Director of Branch Libraries and Patron Services, New York Public Library.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: education, international peace, and a strong democracy.

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves nearly 17 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at . To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.

About the 91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½ is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91´«Ã½ has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

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