Professional Recognition
ALA Professional Recognition Awards
The ALA Professional Recognition Awards program honors individuals, groups, or organizations that have shown outstanding leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship.
Historic Professional Recognition Awards
Historic Professional Recognition Awards are formal ALA honors that are no longer bestowed. While no longer offered, these awards hold significant historical value, reflecting past excellence or contributions that have already been recognized. The legacy of historic awards can still inspire and provide context for present and future acknowledgements in similar domains.
ALA Honorary Membership
Conferred upon the award-winning singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist Dolly Parton for her longstanding support and commitment to inspiring a love of books and reading.
Sullivan is honored for her lasting contribution to the field of librarianship through her service to the profession and ALA, her work on organizational change, leadership development, and her consulting practice that has reached thousands of librarians.
Neal was nominated in recognition of significant contributions to libraries and the profession of librarianship and his accomplishments as ALA president and treasurer and a member of ALA Council.
Wedgeworth was nominated in recognition of significant contributions to the profession at large and the extraordinarily important work he did while leading ALA as its chief executive officer.
Upcoming deadlines
Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award
School librarians are invited to apply for a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
ALA John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award
Honoring outstanding effective strategic communication campaigns that show results, no matter what size or type of library.
