Starting today, nominations are officially open for the 2021 School Librarian of the Year Award!
Presented by School Library Journal and sponsored by Scholastic Book Fairs, 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.
Incredible school librarians who have received this honor in the past include Michelle Colte, Kristina Holzweiss, Todd Burleson, Tamiko Brown, Ali Schilpp, and most recently, 2020 School Librarian of the Year Cicely Lewis from Norcross, Georgia.
In this unprecedented year, school librarians nationwide have stepped up to support students, families and educators as our lives and the way we experience learning continues to change, and their role has never been more essential. Tell a school librarian you know about this opportunity to share their story and get books and resources for their school, or if you are a supporter (i.e. administrator, peer, institution), nominate them yourself!
The 2021 School Librarian of the Year 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, the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs, including a book giveaway for every student in the school.
- A feature profile in the April 2021 issue of School Library Journal.
The deadline to submit is Tuesday, December 8, 2020.
To learn more about the School Librarian of the Year Award and the nomination process, visit www.slj.com/schoollibrarianoftheyear.
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 at a public or private school at a site level. Previous applicants who have not yet received the award are encouraged to apply again!
Nominations are judged by a panel including School Library Journal editors; John Schumacher (Mr. Schu), the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs; and Cicely Lewis, 2020 School Librarian of the Year, based on criteria such as creativity in programming and use of content, exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and the school community, demonstrated student engagement, and more.
Key dates to keep in mind:
- Nominations open: September 15, 2020
- Nomination close: December 8, 2020
- Winner announced: March 2021
- Winner profiled: April 2021
We look forward to celebrating the amazing school librarians who go above and beyond to support their students and communities with the power of literacy every day!
