An annual award presented by School Library Journal (SLJ) and sponsored by Scholastic

The School Librarian of the Year Award honors a K–12 library professional for outstanding achievement and the exemplary use of 21st-century tools and services to engage children and teens toward fostering multiple literacies.

2024 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

Amanda Chacon Named 2024 School Librarian of the Year
Amanda Chacon: Community Champion | 2024 School Librarian of the Year
Tamara Cox: A Leader for All | 2024 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
Jessie Storrs: Serving “Just Kids” | 2024 School Librarian of the Year Finalist

2023 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

Julie Stivers Named 2023 School Librarian of the Year
Julie Stivers: A Place To to Read and Thrive | 2023 School Librarian of the Year
Local Hero: Karina Quilantan-Garza | 2023 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
Melissa Corey Corey: Books for Every Student | 2023 School Librarian of the Year Finalist

2022 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
 

K.C. Boyd Named 2022 School Librarian of the Year
Ace Advocate: K.C. Boyd Is 2022 School Librarian of the Year 
Building a Second Home for Students: Pia Alliende, 2022 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
Foregrounding Free Speech: Andy Spinks, 2022 School Librarian of the Year Finalist

2021 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
On SLJ.com:
 

Multitasking in Molokai: Diane Mokuau, 2021 School Librarian of the Year
Journeying with Jones: Amanda Jones, 2021 School Librarian of the Year

2020 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

"Reading Is My Superpower": Cicely Lewis, 2020 School Librarian of the Year

2018 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

Appalachian Trailblazer: Ali Schilpp, SLJ's 2018 School Librarian of the Year

Bay Bridge Builder: Cassy Lee, SLJ's 2018 Champion of Student Voice

World Class: SLJ's 2018 Champion of Civic Engagement Michelle Carton

2017 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

• Meet Tamiko Brown, SLJ’s 2017 School Librarian of the Year
• Make, Write, Excel: Alisha Wilson, 2017 Maker Hero
• Attuned to Equity: April Wathen, 2017 Hero of Equitable Access
• “Liz the Librarian:” Liz Phipps Soeiro, 2017 Hero of Family Outreach
• Get on the Bus! Jan Wilson, 2017 Hero of Collaboration

On Scholastic:

• School Library Journal and Scholastic Announce 2017 School Librarian of the Year | Scholastic Media Room
• Announcing the 2017 School Librarian of the Year Award winners! | On Our Minds

2016 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

• Yes, He Can! Todd Burleson, SLJ’s 2016 School Librarian of the Year
• Creating a Safe Space: Anita Cellucci, 2016 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
• Unstoppable Ambassador: Laura Gardner, 2016 School Librarian of the Year Finalist

On EDU@Scholastic:

• Three Reasons School Librarians Should Use Twitter by Todd Burleson
• The School Library as a Safe Space by Anita Cellucci
• The Super Social Library by Laura Gardner

Scholastic Librarians on Facebook:

• Librarian Spotlight: Laura Gardner
• Librarian Spotlight: Anita Cellucci
• Librarian Spotlight: Todd Burleson

2015 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

• Meet Kristina Holzweiss, SLJ’s 2015 School Librarian of the Year
• Nashville’s Pride: Lakisha Brinson, 2015 School Librarian of the Year Finalist
• Cultivating Passions: Sally Smollar, 2015 School Librarian of the Year Finalist

On EDU@Scholastic:

• My Story: From a Job Cut to Becoming School Librarian of the Year by Kristina Holzweiss
• School Librarians Open a World of Possible for Students by Sally Smollar
• Embracing Change: Creating a Need-Based School Library is Not One-Size-Fits-All by Lakisha Brinson

Scholastic Librarians on Facebook:

• Librarian Spotlight: Kristina Holzweiss
• Librarian Spotlight: Sally Smollar
• Librarian Spotlight: Lakisha Brinson

Scholastic Reads Podcast:

• Librarians: Making Hearts Large Through Story, Interview with Kristina Holzweiss

Scholastic Administrator:

• A “Making” Manifesto by Kristina Holzweiss

2014 SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR

On SLJ.com:

Meet Michelle Colte, SLJ's 2014 School Librarian of the Year

Expecting the Miraculous: Andy Plemmons, 2014 School Librarian of the Year Finalist

The Whole School is her Classroom: Colleen Graves, 2014 School Librarian of the Year Finalist

SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR IN THE NEWS

Publishers Weekly:
Lerner Partners With Read Woke To Launch Book Series

The Library Voice:
Three Amazing Teacher Librarians Honored By Scholastic & School Library Journal!

The Chicago Tribune:
Passion for learning, teaching leads District 36’s Todd Burleson to national honor

Kenosha News:
Kenosha man named school librarian of the year

South Coast Today:
‘Invested in reading’ Dartmouth Middle School librarian’s passion for books & tech wins her national honors

Dartmouth Week:
What’s new at the Dartmouth Middle School library? (Laura Gardner)

Wicked Local – Shrewsbury:
Westborough High School librarian wins School Librarian of the Year Award

SLJ ARTICLES BY & ABOUT SCHOOL LIBRARIANS OF THE YEAR & FINALISTS

• Amanda Jones and Diane Mokuau Named 2021 School Librarians of the Year
• Catching Up With SLJ’s School Librarians of the Year and Honorees
• Watch: Here's What Our School Librarians of the Year Are Planning for the New School Year
• String Theory: Projects that Merge Math, Art, and Making by Todd Burleson
• STEAM Project Recipes: Insta-Robots and Sewing Art by Todd Burleson
• At the Intersection of Libraries and Museums by Kristina Holzweiss
• “We Get Long Island School Librarians Hooked On Making!” by Kristina Holzweiss
• Reflections On the National Week of Making by Kristina Holzweiss
• The Best of Toy Fair 2016 for Maker Spaces by Kristina Holzweiss
• The Best in Making and Tech at Toy Fair 2017 by Kristina Holzweiss
• Teaching Information Literacy Now by Laura Gardner
• How To Run a Library Volunteer Program that Students Love by Laura Gardner
• Three Rules for a Fabulous Summer Reading Program by Laura Gardner
• School Librarian of the Year Finalists Leverage ESSA in MA by Laura Gardner & Anita Cellucci
• How My School Embraces Social Emotional Learning by Anita Cellucci

2024 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be considered, applicants must meet state requirements for school library media certification and be currently employed in a media specialist, teacher librarian or equivalent position. They can be working in either a public or private school at a site level—supervisors or managers of library programs (including at a district or regional level) are not eligible.

The winning school librarian will receive:

• $2,500 cash award and a full year Scholastic subscription to one digital program (valued up to $3500)
• $500 Scholastic Power of Story collection for their library
• A feature profile in the April 2024 issue of SLJ.
• An expensed trip to the American Library Association annual conference, San Diego, June 27—July 2 (hotel, airfare, registration, and a ticket to the Youth Media Awards banquet)

This year, the School Librarian of the Year award program will honor, in addition to the winner, two finalists, who will each receive:

• $250 Scholastic Power of Story collection for their library
• A full year Scholastic subscription to one digital program (valued up to $1000)  

Previous applicants who have not yet received the award are encouraged to apply again.

2024 JUDGING & CRITERIA

A panel comprised of SLJ editors; a Scholastic Trade Publishing representative; Julie Stivers, 2023 School Librarian of the Year; and a school administrator, will judge nominations per the following criteria:

• Exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and school community
• Creativity in programming and use of content
• Collaboration with teacher peers, staff, and administrators
• Effective integration of library services with curricula
• Demonstrated student engagement
• Exemplary use of technology tools
• Outreach to parents, families
• Effective promotion of the library and what it offers

2024 APPLICATION PROCESS

A written statement of up to two pages describing the award nominee and the services implemented must demonstrate how the librarian’s accomplishments fulfill the award criteria above. Provide context regarding the school and its library, including:

• A description of library services and how they are delivered (i.e. scheduling)
• The size and makeup of library media center resources, including staff
• Budget information (school and library, and technology funding)
• The physical plant (include approximate square footage of library)
• Student demographics
• A description of the community served
• Two letters of recommendation must also accompany the application.

Photographs, video, links, including related blog posts and press coverage, and other supportive material, may also be submitted but will be considered supplementary.

Applicants can nominate themselves. Supporters (i.e. administrators, peers, institutions) can also nominate a librarian for the award. But due to the responsibilities of the winner (the production of related content for SLJ), the nominee must be aware of the application and attendant responsibilities of participation.

All required application elements, including both recommendation letters, must be emailed in one submission to sljlibrarianoftheyear@mediasourceinc.com. Required elements sent separately will result in an incomplete application, which will render them ineligible.

2024 KEY DATES

• Nominations open: August 29
• Nominations close: December 20
• Winner announced: March 2024
• Winner profiled in SLJ: April 2024