It’s that time. Nominations of stellar school librarians may be submitted, beginning today, for the School Librarian of the Year 2020.

Administered by School Library Journal and sponsored by Scholastic Book Fairs and Scholastic Digital Solutions, the 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.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered, applicants must meet state requirements for school library media certification and be currently employed as a media specialist, teacher librarian, or equivalent position. They can be working in either a public or private school at a site level.

A written statement describing the award nominee and the services implemented must demonstrate how the librarian’s accomplishments fulfill the following award criteria:

Exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and the 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

Two letters of recommendation must accompany the application, along with specific information, including student demographics, budget, and a description of your physical plant. (See the award page for complete rules.)  

The winning school librarian will receive:

• $2,500 cash award and $2,500 in-kind digital and/or print products for their library.
• A Scholastic Book Fairs “Mr. Schu's Picks” collection of books.
• A visit from John Schumacher, Ambassador of School Libraries, Scholastic, including a book giveaway for every student in the school.
• An invitation to participate in a 2020 Scholastic Book Fairs Summer Reading Summit (including airfare, one night hotel stay and summit registration)
• A  profile in the April 2020 issue of SLJ.

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

Applicants can nominate themselves. Supporters (i.e. administrators, peers, institutions) can also nominate a librarian for the award. 

Key dates

Nominations open: September 3, 2019

Nominations close: November 18

Winner announced: March 2020

Winner profiled in SLJ: April 2020

For more information, visit slj.com/schoollibrarianoftheyear.