The Penguin Random House Foundation will honor the recipients of its 2018 Library Awards for Innovation at a reception at the ALA Annual Conference tonight in New Orleans.
The awards recognize the nation’s “most innovative public libraries and librarians for community-based library programs that engage citizens in reading and strengthen the social and cultural fabric of their community” and consist of one $10,000 first place grant, four $1,000 runner-up grants, and five $500 book grant awards for each librarian’s respective public library.
This year’s winners are:
Gretchen Caserotti: $10,000 Grant Recipient, Library Director for “Tiny Library at the Hill,” Meridian Library District, Meridian, Idaho.
Lisa Goldstein: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Youth Wing Division Manager for “Book Match Teen,” Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, New York.
Jennifer McCormack: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Director, for “ELL Summer Reading Program,” Nashua Public Library, Nashua, New Hampshire.
Meghan Petersen: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Archivist, for “Amesbury Eats Equality Now,” Amesbury Public Library , Amesbury, Massachusetts.
Heather Weleski: $1,000 Grant Recipient, Children and Youth for “Feed Your Minds,” Community Library of Castle Shannon, Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania.
Christine Gramm: $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Library Manager for “GED Testing Center,” Medina County District Library, Medina, Ohio.
Elizabeth LaRosee: $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Assistant Director/Emerging Tech for “Community Digital Media and Learning Lab,” Turner Free Library, Randolph, Massachusetts.
Elizabeth McIntyre: $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Director for “Barrow Book Partnership,” Piedmont Regional Libraries, Jefferson, Georgia.
Maria Sewall: $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Children’s Librarian for “Bus Book Program,” Topsham Public Library, Topsham, Missouri.
Myra Shindler: $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, BJE Director for “The Veteran’s Day Teen Holocaust Forum,” Jewish Community Library and Resource Center, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Skip Dye, VP & Director of Operations and Library Sales, Penguin Random House, will be present the top awards to the 2018. “More than ever before, it is vital to highlight and celebrate the profound impact libraries and librarians have on their community,” Dye said in a statement. “These awards honor the inventive and resourceful means through which libraries inspire and support diversity, tolerance, and literacy.”