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Alicia Deal and KayCee Choi nominated each other for the same reason—their advocacy for d/Deaf (Hard of Hearing/Deaf) culture. The two have spearheaded Dallas Public Library programming for National Deaf History Month in April; Deal and Choi created programs about major league baseball player William Hoy and author and activist Helen Keller, among others, which drew about 100 patrons total.

Lindsey Kimery stepped up her advocacy efforts as the Tennessee legislature crafted bills such as the Age Appropriate Materials Act of 2022 and an Obscenity and Pornography bill, each an attack on intellectual freedom. “Lindsey rallied librarians across the district and state to speak up and speak out on behalf of those who would be affected,” says nominator Alyssa Littrell, Metro Nashville Public Schools district librarian.

As chair of the Meridian Library District (MLD) Board of Trustees, Megan Larsen passionately defends the right to read. Like many libraries around the country, MLD faces attacks from a vocal minority seeking to restrict access to titles featuring diverse content, and recently, a group filed a petition attempting to dissolve the district. “Sometimes, the fight comes to you, like it or not,” Larsen says.

In Shavonn-Haevyn Matsuda's MLISc program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, she focused on examining and challenging inadequacies of access in information systems and library services. Later, after becoming head librarian at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College Library, Matsuda’s doctoral research investigated creating a system of information for Hawaiian archives and librarianship.

As senior librarian at San José Public Library, Lizzie Nolan manages programs, collections, and outreach for both the Children’s Room and teen space known as TeenHQ and has executed and evaluated yearlong literacy programs for the entire 26-branch system. In 2021, Nolan was tasked with leading San José’s Youth Commission, the official youth advisory group to the mayor and city council.

In 2015, as an offshoot of a student leadership congress where he was a delegate, Kevin Conrad Tansiongco founded the Magbasa Tayo (Let’s Read) Movement, an advocacy campaign promoting the importance of community reading centers and public libraries in the Philippines. 

When Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education stopped gathering data on school library collections, Amy Taylor found herself talking to others equally concerned with the loss of the information school libraries needed to advocate for funding. While public libraries have a legislative committee to lobby at the state level, no school library advocacy committee existed. Taylor stepped up to chair a task force studying how school librarians could raise awareness of what they do.

As the synagogue librarian for Temple Rodef Shalom Library and a children’s book consultant, Kusel says she wants to see more literary mirrors for children who are Jewish and offer windows to youth of different faiths to better understand Jewish beliefs and culture.

When Eryn Duffee moved to Washington from Tennessee in early 2021, she immediately jumped into leadership at the Washington Library Association, where she is working to transform the statewide school system.

Willa Liburd Tavernier was an attorney in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) when she entered the MA program at the University of Iowa, aiming to lead knowledge-management initiatives at her law firm. Toward the end of the program, hurricanes Irma and Maria ravaged the BVI. Unable to return, she applied to U.S. academic library residency programs and received an offer from Indiana University–Bloomington, where she’s been ever since.

As a librarian at Tazewell–New Tazewell Primary School, TN, Blake Hopper strives to keep the library space student-centered. One of his most ambitious initiatives involves challenging students to read 40 books per school year, which he promotes through family events. He’s made it a priority to have the library collection reflect the diverse student body as well.

As an eighth grade reading teacher in the Rio Grande Valley, Margarita Longoria noticed a lack of literacy events and diversity in curriculum offered for young adults. Most libraries and bookstores focused on elementary readers; Longoria felt that young adults deserved attention, too. She also knew that it was crucial for young people to see themselves in the books and authors they read, so she founded the Border Book Bash festival.

“Literacy justice is critical to social justice,” insists Amy Kyung-Eun Breslin, whose days are spent out in her community spearheading branch-style literacy programs at schools and other stakeholder venues—and busting through access barriers.

Growing up as a Black girl in a suburban neighborhood, Kymberlee Powe found it almost impossible to locate books reflecting her lived experience. Today Powe strives to support libraries in growing their evolving role as community hubs, training librarians to curate collections that reflect a range of people, stories, and experiences.

After completing her MLIS at the University of Rhode Island in 2014, Rhiannon Sorrell, a member of the Dineì (Navajo) nation, returned to reconnect with her community and deepen her work. As instruction and digital services librarian at Diné College—the first tribally governed and accredited college in the United States—Sorrell has taken on projects that dive deeply into Navajo language and culture.

As the lead instructor with the On the Road to Kindergarten mobile library, Irma Fernandez helps transform the lives of children in Howard County’s underserved communities through early literacy programs. The van visits all of the pre–K students at every elementary school in the county, bringing library resources and material to children of all backgrounds to help them get ready for kindergarten.

At the University of Victoria, Ry Moran has brought his experience to the libraries’ work of reconciliation, decolonization, and understanding Indigenous history, supporting students and faculty through a range of initiatives. The most recent of these is hosting and producing a podcast, Taapwaywin, which means “truth” or “speaking truthfully” in Michif, a language of the Métis people.

In addition to being a beloved story time leader and early childhood literacy advocate, Katie Clausen—“Miss Katie” to her youngest stakeholders—holds a professional certification in Adverse Childhood Experiences. When she realized that families in her community needed age-appropriate mental-health resources, she and colleague Elizabeth Forkan created a circulating collection of Resiliency Kits—books, games, activities, and information for adults and children on themes of grief and loss, divorce, addiction, emotions, and bullying.

Jaena Rae Cabrera has a “not-so-secret agenda,” according to Alan Wong, learning and instruction librarian at San Francisco Public Library (SFPL). “She wants to increase Filipino American visibility and representation at [SFPL],” he says. Cabrera’s efforts include joining forces with Pilipinx American Library, a mobile, noncirculating collection and programming platform, on two events at the Public Knowledge project, a collaboration with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, in 2018 and 2019. 

Christopher Brannon and George Williams are go-to experts helping the free, open source Koha integrated library system (ILS) grow and thrive in U.S. libraries. Both have been active leaders in the koha-US user group: In addition to their work on committees and regular appearances as presenters and panelists at conferences and events, Brannon is the organization’s current president, and Williams is a past president. 

Karla Alvarez has come full circle. While in high school, she got her first job at the San José Public Library as an after-school tutor. Today, after more than 15 years spent traveling to work in conflict studies and community building—a journey that included Mexico, Belize, Kenya, the Philippines, and more—the San José native is back at the city’s library system as Community Programs Administrator, Equity & Inclusion Services. Throughout, she has focused on eliminating barriers and strengthening access to services.

While serving as Open Educational Resources (OER) and Student Success Librarian at Michigan State University (MSU) Libraries, Gong launched a student-centered OER program in 2019 to address the overwhelming barriers of affordability and access students faced. At the time, fewer academic libraries utilized free open learning, teaching, and research materials.

In 2016, Frost founded Sewing Rebellion at Boulder Public Library's BLDG 61 to encourage people to make their own clothes or repair damaged clothing rather than buy new. The program became popular in Boulder as the upcycling and creative reuse movements grew. In 2019, Frost retired Sewing Rebellion. But when approached by a colleague about joining a project called Slay the Runway, in collaboration with the library and local LGBTQIA+ organizations, Frost jumped at the chance.

For researchers at North Carolina State University, computing and data resources are plentiful. However, finding and employing the right tools for a particular project can be challenging, whether for a researcher still in the planning or discovery phases of a project or an administrator. Susan Ivey’s mission as director of the new Research Facilitation Service: Cut through that confusion.

The Librarian Parlor (aka LibParlor), which Chelsea Heinbach cofounded and operates with Nimisha Bhat, Hailley Fargo, and Charissa Powell, is a platform for library workers and LIS students to ask questions, discuss issues, and share expertise on developing, pursuing, and publishing library research. The project was conceived when Heinbach attended her first large library conference and encountered likeminded library workers who also felt the need for a centralized meeting place.

Lydia Lopez’s work opened access to services for Miami-Dade county residents who might not otherwise have had them—lifesaving medical tests and vaccines, entry into one’s home following a hurricane or fire, or even just the opportunity to reserve government-owned tennis courts—all because they don’t meet the requirements to obtain a driver’s license or state-issued identification.

David Greisen is founder, CEO, and the driving force behind Open Law Library, a nonprofit open-access publisher helping governments collaborate, draft, and publish consistent laws with legislative history built to withstand nation state–level cyberattacks and comply with the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, all without going through for-profit publishers.

On any given day, Schuylerville Public Library patrons might find director Caitlin Johnson stacking apples or cleaning the public produce fridge. Collaboration with local farmers, food pantries, and the Southern Adirondack Library System, NY, as part of the Farm-2-Library program has allowed SPL to offer tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce to patrons free of charge.

Rakisha Kearns-White established the Cycle Alliance, a teen advocacy group that fights period poverty and the stigma of menstruation. Since spring 2020, more than 170 teens have attended workshops, helped with distribution days, or volunteered for Cycle Alliance programs. The Cycle Alliance has partnered with international and local organizations to offer period-product distribution days and safe-sex workshops, giving out 200 period kits since 2021.

Brooke McCauley’s career spans activism and politics, anti-hunger/anti-poverty advocacy, and lobbying. In 2019, she learned about a new role at the Howard County Library System—customer experience manager—and made it her own.

Although students are the focus of her work, Quilantan-Garza has also helped more than 25 teachers earn certification as Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts—and her “Tech Yourself” online, self-paced microcredentialing courses help teachers and staff document how they are staying current with the latest educational tools and technology.

Courtney Shaw's innovative programming across numerous communities—including prisons and a local nonprofit that supports youth and adults experiencing homelessness—features Techie Senior classes to help decrease social isolation for the elderly, story time and early literacy education, youth STEM programs focused on coding and robotics, health and financial literacy programs, library card signups and mobile phone circulation, and arts and cultural offerings. 

When the Democratic nominee for state representative in Ohio’s 99th district was forced to withdraw from an upcoming election after her home was redistricted by 20 feet, Kathy Zappitello stepped into the race, largely to oppose pending censorship legislation introduced by her opponent that would “prohibit teaching, advocating, or promoting divisive concepts.”

When Daniel Zeiger arrived at Georgia Public Library Service, a major financial and operational challenge faced the state’s library systems—the plethora of individually managed, high-cost, public-access desktop computers. Small library systems were maintaining their own machines with a single IT professional, a tech-savvy director, or no in-house IT at all.

Ashley Allen guides YA patrons along multimedia-related job paths by organizing industry networking opportunities and educational presentations, facilitating their access to scholarships, and overseeing the “Voices of Queens” podcast program. More than 165 students have created 100 episodes of this strictly for-teens, by-teens published program. Combined, they’ve completed at least 900 after-school hours of career training.

In 2019, Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden was planning a radio interview at the same time that singer, songwriter, and rapper Lizzo was doing a round of publicity. Solomon HaileSelassie suggested that Hayden invite Lizzo—a classically trained flutist—to the Library of Congress (LC) to see its Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection, which contains nearly 1,700 flutes and related materials dating back to the 16th century. 

Libraries provide food for the spirit through books, information, and services. Lu Bangura wants to ensure they also nurture their community through the stomach and wallet.

If you missed the viral video by teen punk Asian American–Latine band The Linda Lindas, streamed during the pandemic from a branch of the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), you can’t blame Keith Kesler. The social media librarian for LAPL, Kesler boosted the signal of one song, “Racist Sexist Boy,” which has now reached over 10 million people across the library’s channels via YouTube.

Noelle Cruz and Melissa Santosa may seem like an unlikely team. Santosa worked for years in education and counseling before landing at Alameda County Library (ACL). Cruz worked multiple jobs simultaneously while earning her MLIS and searching for a library position. Both have leadership roles in the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) initiative, ACL’s effort to confront racism in both its organization and its community.

In 2022, Tara Sypniewski—a longtime trans activist—opened the Trans Library in a former antique store on one of Ottawa’s most diverse main streets. It’s a safe space for trans and gender diverse people, she says, “where they can meet, learn about themselves, and investigate their history; a place for parents of trans kids; and a place where the community can engage with trans folks on a personal level.”

As anti-Asian–based racism increased during COVID-19, Lynn Nguyen and the Chinatown Teen Council (CTC), a program she created in 2019, participated in the library’s Teens Leading Change civic engagement project to study the impact of food insecurity in Chinatown—and, under Nguyen’s guidance, were able to take intentional, meaningful action.

When Sara Elisa Proaño-Motta arrived in Michigan in 2008, she worked as a translator and interpreter serving communities that faced barriers to services or resources. “This led me to recognize the library as one of the most important resources for case managers, advocates, and community navigators,” recalls the Ecuadorian native. “The work humbled me, informing my understanding of the many cultures represented in Kent County.”

When Robert Weinstein began working at Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) in early 2021, most branches still offered only lobby services because of COVID-19 restrictions, and bookmobile services were shut down entirely. Weinstein was hired to get the library’s bookmobiles back up and running using an all-outdoor bookmobile service model.

Angela Hursh’s passion for helping libraries promote their programs and services is unrivaled, and her blog, superlibrarymarketing.com, is an invaluable resource for libraries around the world. Since the blog’s launch in 2015, she’s published 425 articles and videos, which have been viewed more than 426,000 times. As manager of engagement and marketing for NoveList, Hursh lately has been using her skills and hands-on experience to help libraries uphold their First Amendment rights by fighting book bans.

The list of luminaries who have made in-person appearances at the Wilmington Public Library (WPL) since Jamar Rahming became executive director in 2018 is a long one. Angela Davis, LeVar Burton, Dolly Parton (who selected WPL for her early childhood reading initiative), Dennis Rodman, Pam Grier, Anthony Ray Hinton, Jennifer Lewis, Malcolm Jamal Warner, and a cast reunion of A Different World are just a few.

Can libraries afford open access? LJ’s latest Periodicals Price Survey examines the state of the market.

Library Journal and School Library Journal combine editorial & marketing expertise to conduct and present the most up-to-date library market research available.

These comprehensive and reliable reports use real data to help answer hard questions and aid decision making. Our in-house research experts conduct a variety of surveys each year focused on different aspects of public, academic, special and school libraries. Each report is made available as a downloadable pdf.

How can librarians determine when their implicit bias has guided them into viewing Black patron behavior as dangerous, and hence guided them to call 911, and when a situation is actually dangerous and requires a police response? 

The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers not only resulted in protests throughout the country, it also forced many non-Black Americans to finally grapple with the realization that Black lives are systemically devalued. To help readers learn to recognize and combat systemic racism, several institutions and organizations are making resources readily available.

“One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of 'not racist.'” ― Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist

The following 11 titles, a mix of history, social science, and memoir, offer facts and reflections on systemic racial injustice as well as ways to channel feeling into action.

Public libraries are using new vendor solutions to enhance local schools’ ebook and audiobook collections, creating a new generation of library users.

Author and activist Robin DiAngelo explained that grappling with racism can be uncomfortable for white people—but it's crucial to dismantling systemic oppression.

Increasingly, public libraries have been finding creative ways to join forces with school administrators, librarians, and media specialists on collaborations that meet students’ evolving needs in and out of school. Clear lines of communication on both sides spell success for districtwide collaborations.