School Librarian of the Year

An annual award presented by ***School Library Journal* (*SLJ)*** and sponsored by Scholastic

The School Librarian of the Year 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.

2025 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be considered, applicants must meet state requirements for school library media certification and be currently employed in a media specialist, teacher librarian or equivalent position. They can be working in either a public or private school at a site level—supervisors or managers of library programs (including at a district or regional level) are not eligible.

The winning school librarian will receive:

$2,500 cash award and a full year Scholastic subscription to one digital program (valued up to $3500)
$500 Scholastic Power of Story collection for their library
A feature profile in the April 2025 issue of SLJ.
An expensed trip to the American Library Association annual conference, Philadelphia, June 26—June 30, 2025 (hotel, airfare, registration, and a ticket to the Youth Media Awards banquet)

This year, the School Librarian of the Year award program will honor, in addition to the winner, two finalists, who will each receive:

$250 Scholastic Power of Story collection for their library
A full year Scholastic subscription to one digital program (valued up to $1000)

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

2025 JUDGING & CRITERIA

A panel comprised of SLJ editors; a Scholastic Trade Publishing representative; Amanda Chacon, 2024 School Librarian of the Year; and a school administrator, will judge nominations per the following criteria:

Exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and 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

2025 APPLICATION PROCESS

A written statement of up to two pages describing the award nominee and the services implemented must demonstrate how the librarian’s accomplishments fulfill the award criteria above. Provide context regarding the school and its library, including:

A description of library services and how they are delivered (i.e. scheduling)
The size and makeup of library media center resources, including staff
Budget information (school and library, and technology funding)
The physical plant (include approximate square footage of library)
Student demographics
A description of the community served
Two letters of recommendation must also accompany the application.

Photographs, video, links, including related blog posts and press coverage, and other supportive material, may also be submitted but will be considered supplementary.

Applicants can nominate themselves. Supporters (i.e. administrators, peers, institutions) can also nominate a librarian for the award. But due to the responsibilities of the winner (the production of related content for SLJ), the nominee must be aware of the application and attendant responsibilities of participation.

All required application elements, including both recommendation letters, must be emailed in one submission to sljlibrarianoftheyear@mediasourceinc.com. Required elements sent separately will result in an incomplete application, which will render them ineligible.