INDIANAPOLIS – The American Library Association (ALA) has announced the 2026 winners of the annual I Love My Librarian Award, including Mahasin Ameen from Indiana University, Indianapolis. The highly prestigious award recognizes the outstanding public service contributions of librarians working in public, school, college, community college, or university libraries across the country.
Mahasin Ameen, teaching and learning librarian at Indiana University Indianapolis, is a trusted guide in navigating today’s complex information landscape. Through expert instruction in research, database use, and source evaluation, she empowers students and faculty to build strong information literacy skills. Beyond campus, Ameen champions equity and access by supporting marginalized communities, integrating social justice into curricula, and leading health literacy initiatives in partnership with the Indianapolis Public Library.
Mahasin Ameen, along with other honorees, will be formally celebrated at the I Love My Librarian Award Ceremony at the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago from June 25-29, 2026.
“As ALA marks its 150th commemoration, we recognize the remarkable contributions these 10 librarians make for our communities, for learning, for our health, and for the public good,” said ALA President Sam Helmick. “These librarians are people who power possibility in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our places of higher learning. Their leadership, creativity, and innovation strengthen the communities they serve, and we are proud to honor them.”
ALA received more than 1,300 nominations from library users for this year’s award, which demonstrates the breadth of impact of librarians across the country. Nominations focused on librarians’ outstanding service, including expanding access to literacy and library services, outreach within their communities, supporting the needs of the most vulnerable, and more. This year’s award recipients include three academic librarians, four public librarians, and three school librarians.
Honorees will each receive a $5,000 cash prize as well as complimentary registration and a $750 travel stipend to attend the 2026 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago from June 25-29. The award ceremony and reception will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT on Friday, June 26.
The 2026 honorees are:
Mahasin Ameen
Indiana University, Indianapolis
Mahasin Ameen, teaching and learning librarian at Indiana University Indianapolis, is a trusted guide in navigating today’s complex information landscape. Through expert instruction in research, database use, and source evaluation, she empowers students and faculty to build strong information literacy skills. Beyond campus, Ameen champions equity and access by supporting marginalized communities, integrating social justice into curricula, and leading health literacy initiatives in partnership with the Indianapolis Public Library.
Valerie Byrd Fort
University of South Carolina / South Carolina Community Center for Literacy, Columbia.
Valerie Byrd Fort, a University of South Carolina Teaching Assistant Professor, is a national leader in empowering communities to confront rising book censorship. A cocreator of the Get Ready, Stay Ready Community Action Toolkit , she equips librarians and educators with robust tools to fight censorship and invites parents and community caregivers to get involved. With more than 15 years of experience as a school librarian, Byrd Fort continues to advance literacy statewide through the South Carolina Center for Community Literacy and impactful outreach initiatives.
Jenny Cox
Georgetown Middle School, Georgetown, South Carolina
Jenny Cox has transformed the Georgetown Middle School library into the school’s academic heartbeat. Through innovative, curriculum embedded programming, Cox has increased instructional visits to more than 350 annually and reimagined student engagement. A district leader and advocate, she successfully secured a raise in per student library funding from $17 to $27, as well as spearheaded a $400,000 capital funds initiative resulting in more than 18,000 new books for students countywide. Her leadership and impact have earned multiple honors, including Teacher of the Year, South Carolina Pee Dee Regional School Librarian of the Year, and Outstanding School Library Program of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians.
Joanne Doucette
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston
Joanne Doucette, associate professor and associate director for research services at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, supports the health of our communities through leadership in information literacy and health research. An expert in medical evidence analysis, she mentors graduate students across biomedical fields and has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications. At the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, Doucette served with the Librarian Reserve Corps, supporting World Health Organization epidemiologists by delivering critical, reliable research to inform global public health decision-making.
Tracy Fitzmaurice
Jackson County Public Library (former), Sylva, North Carolina
Tracy Fitzmaurice has been a transformative leader for rural libraries in Jackson County, North Carolina, championing inclusivity and access for communities with limited resources. As former county librarian and director of the Fontana Regional Library, she launched innovative programs supporting people with disabilities, digital literacy, workforce development, and community connection. Her leadership during Hurricane Helene, award-winning facilities work, and deep community advocacy left a lasting impact across Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, earning widespread recognition and respect. Fitzmaurice resigned in February 2026 following a turbulent period of local politics and personal attacks.
Mia Gittlen
Milpitas High School, Milpitas, California
Mia Gittlen, librarian at Milpitas High School, revitalized a shuttered library into a welcoming hub for all students. Since reopening, the space now hosts dynamic programming, community events, and student clubs, inspiring even reluctant readers. A leader in information and media literacy, Gittlen is an Apple Learning Coach, Google Certified Educator, and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and since 2019, has served as a Media Literacy Innovator for public media station KQED, which hosts a national Youth Media Challenge that empowers students to create original audio, video, and other media.
Mary Anne Russo
Hubbard Public Library, Hubbard, Ohio
Mary Anne Russo, who recently retired from library service after 42 years, transformed the Children’s Room at Hubbard Public Library from a dark basement into a vibrant, welcoming space that inspires learning and imagination. Through a thoughtful redesign featuring natural light, dedicated program areas, and a sensory garden, Russo created a hub for families and children. Beyond the space, she launched impactful initiatives including school outreach programs, a Toy Lending Library recognized by ALA, an intergenerational reading and activities program coordinated with a local assisted living facility, and a permanent StoryWalk®, leaving a lasting legacy of innovation, access, and community engagement.
Deb Sica
Alameda County Library, Fremont, California
Deb Sica, county librarian of the Alameda County Library, has led transformative efforts grounded in authenticity, equity, and empathy. A longtime advocate for racial equity, LGBTQIA+ rights, and intellectual freedom, Sica launched the library’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team, which evolved into an Equitable Libraries Division and mentorship program supporting underserved communities and staff. Sica has positioned the library as the sponsoring department for the Alameda County Reparations Commission, and she partnered with PAVE Prevention to deliver trauma informed deescalation training systemwide, improving staff safety and influencing library systems across the U.S.
Zachary Stier
Ericson Public Library, Boone, Iowa.
Zachary Stier, director of children’s services at Ericson Public Library, has transformed the library into a community-centered hub for learning and connection. During his 15-year tenure, he has created innovative literacy and STEAM programs, helped forged more than 50 partnerships, and expanded access for learners of all ages. The Little Engines project, which Stier co-created, has driven tens of thousands of additional reading minutes, while his Activating Community Voices program brings experts and residents together to address education, mental health, and civic engagement which strengthened community bonds and reinforced libraries’ vital social role.
Christine Szeluga
Cranford High School, Cranford, New Jersey
Christine Szeluga, librarian at Cranford High School since 2019, has nurtured the school’s library into a dynamic hub for learning and student engagement. She secured grants to create a makerspace, local history archive, and podcast studio, boosting library circulation by 300%. In 2024, she led the Cranford Dixie Giants project, guiding students in researching and sharing the history of Cranford’s early 20th century all Black semiprofessional baseball team through articles and podcasts. The project earned national recognition with the American Association of School Librarians’ Roald Dahl’s Miss Honey Social Justice Award in 2025.
To learn more about each recipient visit ILoveLibraries.org.
