The Librarian of the Year Award is an annual award made by Library Journal to "honor a professional librarian for outstanding achievement and accomplishments reflecting the loftiest service goals of the library profession."[1] It was first awarded in 1988.[2] Although it is often referred to as the "National Librarian of the Year Award," any working professional librarian from North America is eligible.[1]
Past winners
Source: Librarian of the Year - Past Winners (Library Journal)
- 2023: Books Unbanned team, Brooklyn Public Library
- 2022: All librarians and library staff
- 2021: Elaine R. Hicks, Stacy Brody, and Sara Loree, Librarian Reserve Corps
- 2020: Christian Zabriskie and Lauren Comito, Urban Librarians Unite
- 2019: Skye Patrick, LA County Library, CA
- 2018: Lance Werner, Kent District Library, MI
- 2017: Jill Bourne, San José Public Library, CA
- 2016: Nicolle Ingui Davies, Arapahoe Library District, CO
- 2015: Siobhan A. Reardon, Free Library of Philadelphia
- 2014: Corinne Hill, Chattanooga Public Library
- 2013: Jo Budler, Kansas State Library
- 2012: Luis Herrera, San Francisco Public Library
- 2011: Nancy Pearl, University of Washington
- 2010: Craig Buthod, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
- 2009: Team Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Public Library, IA
- 2008: Norma Blake, New Jersey State Librarian
- 2007: Mary Baykan, Washington County Free Library, MD
- 2006: Rivkah Sass, Omaha Public Library
- 2005: Susan K. Nutter, Vice Provost & Director of Libraries, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
- 2004: Toni Garvey, City Librarian, Phoenix Public Library
- 2003: Raymond Santiago, Director, Miami-Dade Public Library System, FL
- 2002: Susan Kent, Los Angeles Public Library, CA
- 2001: Louise Blalock, Hartford Public Library, CT
- 2000: SEE 2001. Library Journal changed the year of the award to the year in which it is presented.
- 1999: Jerry Thrasher, Cumberland County Public Library, NC
- 1998: Susan Fuller, Director, Santa Clara County Library, San Jose, CA
- 1997: Bobby Roberts, Central Arkansas Library System, Little Rock, AR
- 1996: Dorothy M. Schirtzinger, Lee County Library System, Fort Myers, FL
- 1995: Carla D. Hayden, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
- 1994: Deborah Jacobs, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, OR
- 1993: Susan C. Curzon, Vice Provost, Information and Technology Resources Division and Dean of the University Library System, California State University, Northridge
- 1992: John W. Ferguson, Director, Mid-Continent Public Library, Independence, MO
- 1991: Daniel J. Bradbury, Director, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO
- 1990: Amy Owen, Utah State Librarian, Salt Lake City, UT
- 1989: Brenda Vogel, Library Coordinator of the Maryland Correctional Educational Libraries
- 1988: Peggy Goodwin, Adult Services Librarian, Walnut Creek Branch Library of the Nicholson Memorial Library System, Garland, TX