Hey Friends!

This week, I have a favor to ask. It’s not too big, it’ll require a little bit of your time, but it’s for a good cause. The American Library Association (ALA) initiative group I Love Libraries is having their annual I Love My Librarian Awards and they are currently accepting submissions for the top 10 librarians through September 28th. As found on their nomination page,

“Librarians touch the lives of the people they serve every day.  The I Love My Librarian Award encourages library users like you to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians.  We want to hear how you think your librarian is improving the lives of the people in your school, campus or community.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

No, the big favor isn’t that you nominate me.

The favor is that you take to time to nominate a librarian in general.

It doesn’t have to be me. It can be your librarian friend, the local librarian who helped you find something, your roommate who works at the college library, your sister who works for a library in another state, anyone! Just show them that you care and appreciate what they do for you and others around you. Every day, librarians are helping kids foster a love for books and knowledge, providing teens a safe haven where they can learn, play and put their creativity to good use, and teaching adults the skills they need to compete in a world of technology. It’s a tough job, and sometimes we need some motivation and gratitude. Librarians put up with angry patrons, screaming children, and just flat-out crazy people who wear tin foil hats; a little bit of praise can it make it all worth while.

Keep in mind that they do have to be a “real” librarian – by that, I mean they have to be:

•  a librarian with a master’s degree from an ALA-accredited college program  in library and information studies OR a librarian with  a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
• currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school

I know September 28th is a far ways away, but it will approach faster than you think. Nominate your favorite librarian here, and remember to show your love of librarians on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all to envy you and your super smart friends!

Justin Brasher, Brash Librarian