Announced winners of the American Library Association Awards in 2025
News Article: Honouring Librarians and AI Innovations
In the world of libraries, innovation and leadership are at the forefront, and several librarians have been recognised for their exceptional contributions.
Natalie Greene Taylor has been awarded the Beta Phi Mu Award for her remarkable scholarship and leadership roles in library organizations. Her dedication to the field has not gone unnoticed, and her work continues to inspire many.
Clara Bohrer is being honoured with the Joseph W. Lippincott Award for her significant contributions to the field of librarianship. Bohrer's leadership, particularly in Every Child Ready to Read, has left a lasting impact on the profession.
Janet Hyunju Clarke, associate dean of research and learning at Stony Brook University Libraries, is the recipient of the ALA Medal of Excellence. This prestigious award is in recognition of her work on the Ready for Success project, which aims to integrate research skills into high school curricula more effectively.
The Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library formed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force to understand AI's impacts and explore its potential for libraries. The task force, in collaboration with the Adult Services team, created a comprehensive training program called the Summer of AI Training Series. Over 800 employees were empowered to confidently serve patrons due to this training.
Kelvin Watson, executive director of Las Vegas-Clark County (Nev.) Library District, is another librarian who has made a significant impact. His deep history of industry and community engagement has spotlighted the library profession and inspired others in their career choices.
Sara Turner, deputy director and children's librarian at Lewiston Public Library, was honoured with the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity. Turner spearheaded initiatives to create safe spaces for difficult conversations and expanded the library's resources on bereavement after a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.
Clare Graham, director of the Malvern-Hot Spring County Library, is being recognised for her work on book giveaways and a Library of Things. Her commitment to library services and programs has earned her the Scholastic Library Publishing Award.
Elsewhere, the Kennesaw (Ga.) State University Libraries Recruitment and Retention Task Force has shown a strong commitment to making library hiring fairer and more transparent, thereby promoting lasting change in the profession.
Finally, the Library Freedom Project (LFP) serves all librarians and offers professional development opportunities, community engagement activities, and statewide advocacy initiatives in Tennessee.
These honours and initiatives highlight the vital role librarians play in their communities and the ongoing efforts to innovate and improve library services.
