MSLA Awards Archives 
​Organized by year and award, plus pictures

MSLA Awards

2023 Awards: Nomination Process and Timeline
Nominations Open: @MSLA Conference, March 20, 2023
                       AWARDS DESCRIPTIONS with Application process and Rubrics 
Nominations Close: April 28, 2023
Awards Committee Reviews Awards: May
Awards Winners Announced: Early June
3/19/2023 It's time to nominate colleagues (or yourself!) and library supporters for the 2023 MSLA Awards! Do you know a librarian with an exceptional library program or a new librarian who is doing a fantastic job? Do you have a representative from your district, a parent group, or an administrator who has done an outstanding job supporting school libraries? Recognize their excellent work and support by nominating them for an MSLA Award!

MSLA Awards are an excellent tool for advocacy and a way to highlight school library programs to administrators, students, parents and the community. Last year, most MSLA Awards recipients were recognized at School Committee meetings and/or in the local press. MSLA Awards spotlight your hard work, impact on student achievement, and the importance of school library programs.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 MSLA Awards. Please take a look at the updated award categories, new awards deadlines, and descriptions on this document and consider nominating a deserving person or group - or yourself!  Nominations are due by April 28, 2023.

Not sure if the person you would like to nominate has already won this award in the past? The MSLA Awards Archives page lists all award recipients going back to 2006.

For additional information, please contact awards@maschoolibraries.org.
Awards Committee:
Amy Short
Cambridge Public Schools
ashort@​maschoolibraries.org
Morgan Keohane
P.A. ​Shaw Elementary, Dorchester
mkeohane​@maschoolibraries.org
​Ella Stocker
Amherst Regional High School
estocker@​maschoolibraries.org

Congratulations to the 2022 Award Recipients
Download a Print Version of the 2022 Awards

  • Judi Paradis Memorial Grant: Patsy Divver, Millis Middle/High School
  • ​Katherine Lowe School Library Champion: Valerie Diggs, Salem State University
  • Service Award: Laura Luker, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
  • M.S.L.A. ​(MA Super Librarian Award): ​Jane Ichord, ​O'Bryant School of ​Math and Science, Boston
  • President's Award: ​Emily Litman, King Open School, Cambridge; Lisa Sheehan, John D, Hardy Elementary, Wellesley
  • Ellen Berne Pathfinder: Alison Connelly, Stoneham High School
  • Virtual Influencer: Stacy Kitsis, Arlington High School
  • Audrey Friend Scholarship: Katie McGinness, ​Salem State University
  • MSLA Research Grant: Deeth Ellis, Boston Public Schools
2022 JUDI PARADIS ACTION GRANT
Supports library programming
making a positive impact ​
on a ​library program and/or
​school culture.

Patsy Divver
Millis Middle/High School

READ MORE about Patsy 
JUDI PARADIS ACTION GRANT - Learn More and DONATE
2022 KATHERINE LOWE SCHOOL LIBRARY CHAMPION:  ​Honors public figures demonstrating a belief in school libraries.
​Valerie Diggs​​
Salem State University

READ MORE
​about Valerie
​
2022 SERVICE AWARD: ​Recognizes school librarian dedication at state/national level.   
​Laura Luker
Pioneer Valley
Chinese Immersion
​Charter School

READ MORE
​about Laura
2022 M.S.L.A. ​(MA Super Librarian Award): Recognizes school library program excellence.   
​Jane Ichord
​John D. O'Bryant
School of
​Mathematics and Science, Boston

​READ MORE
about Jane
2022 PRESIDENT'S AWARD:  Honors new school librarians making an impact on student learning.   
​Emily Litman 
King Open School, Cambridge

​READ MORE about Emily
​ 
Lisa Sheehan 
John D. Hardy Elementary School, Wellesley
​
READ MORE about Lisa
2022 ​ELLEN BERNE PATHFINDER: Celebrates innovative school library programming.    
Alison Connelly 
Stoneham High School

​READ MORE
​about Alison
2022 VIRTUAL INFLUENCER: Recognizes excellence​ in a school librarian's use of virtual tools.   ​
To view the website, click on the School Librarian's picture
​Stacy Kitsis
​​Arlington High School

​READ MORE
about ​Stacy
Renewed to display the 2022 Virtual Influencer Award (formerly the MSLA Web Seal of Excellence):  
2021: Carrie Mathias, Silver Lake Regional High School
2020: Felicia Quesada Montville, Brown Middle School, Newton Public Schools
2019: Pamela Vallee, Lunenburg High School
2018: Emily Houston & Kendall Boninti, Cambridge Rindge & Latin
2017: Margaret Kane Schoen, Newton South HS
2015: Michael Caliguiri, Florence Sawyer School, Bolton
2013: Laura Gardner, Dartmouth MS  
2012: Jennifer St. Michel, Hurley Middle School, Seekonk
2022 ​AUDREY FRIEND SCHOLARSHIP
Katie McGinness 
​Salem State University

​READ MORE
​about Katie
2022 ​MSLA RESEARCH GRANT
Deeth Ellis
​Boston Public Schools

​READ MORE
about Deeth
Page Editor: Ann Perham, MSLA Webmaster
​Updated: March 19, 2023