The American Library Association (ALA) is a professional society for librarians and some other information service providers. Its awards program includes "Books, Print & Media Awards"; professional recognition within the library sciences; and scholarships, fellowships and grants. Some of the former are annual book awards with great public visibility.
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AIA/ALA Library Building Awards — co-sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, honoring excellence in library architecture and design
| Award | Description | First | Type | Admin. | Class | Mo. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC-CLIO Online History Award | Recognizes a person or a group of people producing (1) a freely available online historical collection, or (2) an online tool tailored for the purpose of finding historical materials, or (3) an online teaching aid stimulating creative historical scholarship. | 2005-2009 | Media | RUSA | ||
| ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for Best Book in Library Literature | To recognize those who improve management principles and practice, understanding and application of new techniques, or further the education of librarians or other information specialists. | 2009–present | Professional | ALA | Libraries and librarianship | |
| ALA Notable lists | Notable lists include ALA Notable Books for Adults, ALA Notable Children's Books, ALA Notable Children's Recordings, ALA Notable Children's Videos, ALA Notable Government Documents, ALA Notable Videos for Adults. | various | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | various | ||
| Alex Awards | Given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. | 1998–present | Book | YALSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | To select, annotate, and present for publication an annual list of notable audio recordings significant to young adults from those released in the past two years. | 1999–present | Media | YALSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video | Honors outstanding video productions for children. | 1991–present | Media | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction | Recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. the previous year. (set of 2 annual: fiction, nonfiction) | 2012–present | Book | RUSA | June | |
| Aurianne Award | "Recognize[d] outstanding books on animal life which may develop a humane attitude in children. Given for the best fiction or non-fiction book written for children between the ages of 8-14 years." [8] | 1958-1966 | Book | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | |
| Best Apps for Teaching & Learning | "Honors applications of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the American Association of School Librarians' Standards for the 21st-Century Learner." [9] | 2013-2015 | Media | AASL | Youth Media Awards | |
| Best Fiction for Young Adults ("Best Books" to 2010) [a] | Recommended for ages 12–18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens. | Book | YALSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | ||
| Best of the Best of the University Presses | This list highlights titles from the Best of the Best of University Presses that reflect a viewpoint and topical coverage not typically reflected in standard selection tools. | 2010–present | Book | AASL | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Best Websites for Teaching & Learning | "Honor[ed] websites, tools, and resources of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the American Association of School Librarians' Standards for the 21st-Century Learner." | 2013-2015 | Media | AASL | Youth Media Awards | |
| Beta Phi Mu/LRRT Research Paper Award | "Recognize[d] excellent research into problems related to the profession of librarianship." [10] | LRRT | ||||
| Booklist Editors' Choice | Multiple lists, including Adult Books, Adult Books for Young Adults, Books for Youth, Media, Reference Sources, and Booklist's Top of the List. Chosen by editors of Booklist magazine. | 2005–present | Book | Booklist | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Children's Literature Legacy Award (Previously Laura Ingalls Wilder Award) | Honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. (biennial) | 1954–present | Career | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | |
| Coretta Scott King Book Awards | Recognize African-American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for young adults and children that reflect the African-American experience. (set of 3 annual: writer, illustrator, new talent) | 1985–present | Book | EMIERT | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement | Recognize in alternate years an African-American author or illustrator, and a practitioner, for career contributions. | 2010–present | Career | EMIERT | Youth Media Awards | |
| Dartmouth Medal | A medal that honors the creation of a reference work of outstanding quality and significance, including, but not limited to: writing, compiling, editing, or publishing books or electronic information. | 1975–present | Book | RUSA | Jan | |
| David Cohen Multicultural Award | To encourage as well as recognize articles of significant new research and publication that increases understanding and promotes multiculturalism in libraries in North America. | 2002-2006 | EMIERT | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Donald G. Davis Article Award | To recognize the best article written in English in the field of United States and Canadian library history including the history of libraries, librarianship, and book culture. | 2000–present | LHRT | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Edward Swanson Memorial Best of LRTS Award | Given to the author(s) of the best paper published in Library Resources & Technical Services, the journal of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services. | 1987–present | ALCTS | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Eli M. Oboler Memorial Award | "Presented for the best published work in the area of intellectual freedom." [11] | 1986–present | Book | IFRT | ||
| Eliza Atkins Gleason Book Award | To recognize the best book written in English in the field of library history, including the history of libraries, librarianship, and book culture. | 2004–present | Book | LHRT | Libraries and librarianship | |
| Ex Libris Student Writing Award | To recognize superior student writing and to enhance the professional development of students through publication of the winning manuscript in LITA's primary journal, Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL). | 2001–present | LITA | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults | For the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12–18). | 2010–present | Book | YALSA | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Fabulous Films for Young Adults | To identify for collection developers a body of films relating to a theme that will appeal to young adults in a variety of settings. | 2009–present | Media | YALSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Gale Cengage Learning Financial Development Award | Presented to a library organization to recognize an innovative, creative, well-organized project which successfully developed income from alternative sources. The alternative sources may include, but are not limited to: individual gifts, foundations, endowments, "challenge" grants, and related efforts. | 1985–present | Professional | ALA | Libraries and librarianship | |
| Great Graphic Novels for Teens | Graphic novels published in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for teens aged twelve to eighteen. | 2009–present | Book | YALSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Great Interactive Software for Kids List | Identifies exemplary computer software and multi-platform media for children currently available. | 1996-2010 | Media | ALSC | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| H. W. Wilson Library Periodical Award | For a periodical published by a local, state, or regional library, library group, or library association in the United States or Canada which has made an outstanding contribution to librarianship. | 1961-1980 | ALA | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Ilene F. Rockman Instruction Publication of the Year Award | Recognizes an outstanding publication related to instruction in a library environment published in the preceding two years. | 1993–present | ACRL | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Innovation Award | Recognizes a project that demonstrates creative, innovative, or unique approaches to information literacy instruction or programming. | 2004-2012 | Professional | ACRL | ||
| James Terry White Award | Given for notable published professional writing. | 1938-1941 | ALA | |||
| Jesse Shera Award for Distinguished Published Research | Recognizes a research article published in English during the calendar year. | 1975–present | LRRT | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| John Newbery Medal | To the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. | 1921–present | Book | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Justin Winsor Prize Library History Essay Award | Recognizes the best essay written in English on library history [12] | 1979–present | LHRT | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Catalogue Awards | Recognizes "excellence in the publication of catalogues and brochures that accompany exhibitions of library and archival materials, as well as for electronic exhibitions of such materials." [13] | 1991–present | ACRL | |||
| Listen List | Seeks to highlight outstanding audiobook titles that merit special attention by general adult listeners and the librarians who work with them. | 2012–present | Media | CODES | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Margaret A. Edwards Award | Honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, that have been popular over a period of time. It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world. | 1988–present | Career | YALSA | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Margaret T. Lane/ Virginia F. Saunders Memorial Research Award | Given annually to an author or shared among collaborative authors of an outstanding research article in which government documents, either published or archival in nature, form a substantial part of the documented research. | 2010–present | GODORT | |||
| May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture | Honors an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children's literature, of any country, for contribution to the field of children's literature. | 1970–present | Career | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | July |
| Michael L. Printz Award | For a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. | 2000–present | Book | YALSA | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Mildred L. Batchelder Award | Awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States. | 1968–present | Book | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production | Given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States. | 2008–present | Media | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Outstanding Academic Titles | The best in scholarly titles reviewed by Choice. | Book | ACRL | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | Jan | |
| Outstanding Books for the College Bound and Lifelong Learners | "To provide reading recommendations to students of all ages who plan to continue their education beyond high school." [14] | 2009 | Book | YALSA | ||
| Outstanding Publication Award (Previously Blackwell's Scholarship Award) | Honors the author or authors of the year's outstanding monograph, article or original paper in the field of technical services, including acquisitions, cataloging, collection management, preservation, continuing resources and related areas in the library field. | 1976–present | ALCTS | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Outstanding Reference Sources | To recommend the best reference publications for small and medium-sized libraries. | 1958–present | Book | RUSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Over the Rainbow Book List | To recognize current quality non-fiction and fiction books that authentically express gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experiences. | 2011–present | Book | GLBTRT | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Phyllis Dain Library History Dissertation Award | The award recognizes outstanding dissertations in the general area of library history. | 1991–present | LHRT | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults | To encourage young adults to read for pleasure by presenting to them lists of popular or topical titles which are widely available in paperback and which represent a broad variety of accessible themes and genres. | 2010–present | Book | YALSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Public Libraries Feature Article Contest | To recognize articles written by those employed by a public library and published in Public Libraries. (varies) | 2004–present | PLA | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Pura Belpré Award | Presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.(set of 2 annual: writer, illustrator) | 1996–present | Book | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers | List is for young adults (ages 12–18) who, for whatever reasons, do not like to read. The purpose of this list is to identify titles for recreational reading, not for curricular or remedial use. | 2008–present | Book | YALSA | ||
| Rainbow Book List | List of recommended books dealing with LGBT+ issues and situations for children up to age 18. | 2008-2017 | Book | SRRT / GLBTRT | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Ralph R. Shaw Award for Library Literature | Presented to an American librarian for an outstanding contribution to library literature published during the three years preceding the presentation. | 1959-1976 | ALA | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Randolph Caldecott Medal | Awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. | 1938–present | Book | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Reference Service Press Award | Recognize the most outstanding article published in Reference and User Services Quarterly | 2002–present | RUSA | Libraries and librarianship | ||
| Rise: A Feminist Book Project (Previously Amelia Bloomer Project) | An annual annotated book list (or bibliography) of well-written and well-illustrated books with significant feminist content, intended for young readers (ages birth through 18).[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] | 2004–present | Book | SRRT | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal | The most distinguished informational book published in English in the preceding year for its significant contribution to children's literature. | 2001–present | Book | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| Schneider Family Book Award | 2004–present | Book | ALA | Youth Media Awards | ||
| Sophie Brody Award | "Given to encourage, recognize and commend outstanding achievement in Jewish literature." [15] | 2006–present | Book | RUSA | ||
| Stonewall Book Awards | Presented to English language books that have exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience. (set of 3 annual: fiction, nonfiction, youth) | 1971–present | Book | GLBTRT | Youth Media Awards (one of 3) | Jan |
| STS Oberly Award for Bibliography in the Agricultural or Natural Sciences | For the best English-language bibliography in the field of agriculture or a related science. | 1925–present | ACRL | |||
| Teen's Top Ten | "A 'teen choice' list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year" [16] | 2003-2018 | Book | YALSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| The Reading List | Seeks to highlight outstanding genre fiction that merit special attention by general adult readers and the librarians who work with them. | 2009–present | Book | RUSA | Recommended lists ("Best of ...") | |
| Theodor Seuss Geisel Award | To the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children's literature known as beginning reader books published in the United States during the preceding year. | 2006–present | Book | ALSC | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
| W. Y. Boyd Literary Award for Excellence in Military Fiction | "Honors the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war." [17] | 1997–present | Book | ALA | ||
| William C. Morris YA Debut Award | Honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature. | 2009–present | Book | YALSA | Youth Media Awards | Jan |
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A librarian is a person who works professionally in a library providing access to information, and sometimes social or technical programming, or instruction on information literacy to users.
The Stonewall Book Award is a set of three literary awards that annually recognize "exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience" in English-language books published in the U.S. They are sponsored by the Rainbow Round Table (RRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) and have been part of the American Library Association awards program, now termed ALA Book, Print & Media Awards, since 1986 as the single Gay Book Award.
The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world.
Elonnie J. Josey was an African-American activist and librarian. Josey was the first chair of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, having been instrumental in its formation in 1970; served as president of the American Library Association from 1984 to 1985; and was the author of over 400 books and other publications.
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. YALSA is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand the capacity of libraries to better serve teens. YALSA administers several awards and sponsors an annual Young Adult Literature Symposium, Teen Read Week, the third week of each October, and Teen Tech Week, the second week of each March. YALSA currently has over 5,200 members. YALSA aims to expand and strengthen library services for teens through advocacy, research, professional development and events.
Camila Alire is an American librarian and was president of the American Library Association from 2009 to 2010. She was the first Hispanic president of the ALA. She was previously the president of REFORMA, National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, in 1993-1994.
The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is a division of the American Library Association.
The Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) was a division of the American Library Association (ALA) dedicated to the areas of technical services, collection management and development, and preservation and reformatting. ALCTS membership represented over forty countries and included librarians, library support staff, students of library and information science, and commercial vendors whose professional interests lay in these areas of practice. ALCTS met the needs of its members through educational programming, publications, professional development opportunities and information exchange. ALCTS also promoted and had significant input into the development of standards and best practices, including NISO standards and cataloging standards such as RDA.
The Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) is a section of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The section is devoted to supporting the activities of special collections libraries and archives and promotes the interests of librarians, archivists, curators, and others concerned with the acquisition, organization, preservation, administration, and uses of special collections. The section also maintains ties with related organizations, such as the Society of American Archivists and the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, sometimes participating in joint activities with them.
Librarianship and human rights in the U.S. are linked by the philosophy and practice of library and information professionals supporting the rights enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), particularly the established rights to information, knowledge and free expression.
Kathleen de la Peña McCook is a library scholar and librarian. She is a Distinguished University Professor in the School of Information at the University of South Florida. Much of her work centers around human rights, First Amendment issues, and the freedom of information.
Those working in the field of library science do not currently reflect the age, class, disabilities, ethnicity, gender identity, race, sex, and sexual orientation makeup of the populations they serve. There are efforts to provide a diverse working environment in libraries, with an eye towards ways to diversifying the status quo.
Alma Dawson is an American scholar of librarianship. She retired as Russell B. Long Professor at the School of Library & Information Science, Louisiana State University in 2014 and was awarded Emeritus status in 2015. In 2019 Dr. Dawson was honored with the Essae Martha Culver Distinguished Service Award from the Louisiana Library Association which honors a librarian whose professional service and achievements, whose leadership in Louisiana association work, and whose lifetime accomplishments in a field of librarianship within the state merit recognition of particular value to Louisiana librarianship.
Betty J. Turock is an American librarian and educator who served as president of the American Library Association from 1995 to 1996. She was a member of the faculty of the Rutgers School of Communication and Information for 22 years. Turock is best known for her advocacy for equity of access to electronic information via the Internet as well as for championing diversity in the library profession.
Julius C. Jefferson Jr. is an American librarian who was president of the American Library Association for the 2020-2021 term. In 2022 President Joe Biden appointed him to the National Museum and Library Services Board which advises the agency on general policies with respect to the duties, powers, and authority of the Institute of Museum and Library Services relating to museum, library, and information services, as well as the annual selection of the recipients of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Jefferson is additionally a section head of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, and served as the president of the Freedom to Read Foundation from 2013 to 2016.
Lucille Cole Thomas was an American librarian. Thomas had a long career supporting library services for children with the New York City Board of Education. She was the first African American president of the New York Library Association. She also served as president of the International Association of School Librarianship and the American Association of School Librarians.
Elaine Harger is an American librarian. She was the first recipient of the Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice and Equality in 2022.
Nicole Amy Cooke is an African-American librarian and the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair at the University of South Carolina. Her research focus on critical cultural information studies in libraries and her advocacy for social justice have earned recognition in the library profession.
The Joseph W. Lippincott Award was established in 1938 by the American Library Association.
The American Library Association Equality Award has been given annually by the American Library Association since 1984 in recognition of achievement for outstanding contribution toward promoting equality in the library profession, either by a sustained contribution or a single outstanding accomplishment. The award may be given for an activist or scholarly contribution in such areas as pay equity, affirmative action, legislative work and non-sexist education. The inaugural award was bestowed on Margaret Myers, Director, Office of Library Personnel Resources of the American Library Association in 1984.
