CHICAGO – When the American Library Association announced this year’s 10 winners of the coveted I Love My Librarian Award on Jan. 7, Gallup’s Octavia Fellin Public Library Director Tammi Moe was among them. Honorees are exceptional librarians from academic, public, and school libraries who were nominated by patrons nationwide for their expertise, dedication, and profound impact on the people in their communities.

Through forging partnerships with community organizations and city departments across Gallup, Moe expanded the library’s reach beyond its walls. Under her leadership, the library has offered educational and thought-provoking programming covering historically-sensitive topics to the city’s majority-indigenous American community with a presence at a variety of local events.

American Library Association President Patty Wong congratulated the winners of the 2022 I Love My Librarian Award winners.

“Even in these unprecedented times, our nation’s librarians continue to empower their patrons, promote inclusion in their space and collections, and provide essential services for their communities,” Wong said.

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. Hundreds of nominations focused on librarians’ swift and effective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, from hosting virtual programs to distributing books and technology safely to those in need.

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, a $750 donation to their library, and complimentary registration to ALA’s LibLearnX.

The virtual award ceremony will take place during the conference at 2:30 pm MST on Jan. 22 and will be available to stream live at https://www.youtube.com/user/AmLibraryAssociation.

The American Library Association is a national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA advocated for libraries and librarianism  and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

Staff Reports