Penguin Random House | New York, 07/10/2018

Honoring the Best Libraries in the U.S.

America's most innovative library is located in Meridian, a city of 100,000 in Idaho. This is the opinion of the Library Award for Innovation judges. Once a year, Penguin Random House honors the most innovative libraries in the U.S. The prize was presented at the annual American Library Association Conference and Exhibition.

The American Library Association (ALA), the world's largest and oldest association of librarians, is well known for honoring outstanding books and their publishers, for example with the Carnegie Medal. But once a year, Penguin Random House turns the tables: With its Library Awards for Innovation grants, the publishing group honors the most innovative libraries and librarians in the USA – and recognizes their immense contribution to engaging citizens in reading and strengthening the social and cultural fabric of their communities. This year, the top library is in Idaho.

Gretchen Caserotti runs the “Tiny Library at the Hill” in Meridian, the state of Idaho’s second-largest city with 100,000 inhabitants. And she does such a convincing, modern and innovative job of it that she has just received the Penguin Random House Library Award 2018 first-place grant of $10,000. The prize and prize money were presented by Skip Dye, Vice President & Director of Operations and Library Sales, Penguin Random House, on the opening day of the ALA Conference in New Orleans, at which Michelle Obama, currently probably Penguin Random House's most famous author, was also expected, as reported.

The awards are open to public libraries and school libraries from all parts of the U.S. Among other things, the prize seeks to help strengthen the community ties that exist between libraries and their readers. Skip Dye explains: “More than ever before, it is vital to highlight and celebrate the profound impact libraries and librarians have on their community,” said Mr. Dye. “These awards honor the inventive and resourceful means through which libraries inspire and support diversity, tolerance, and literacy.”

The 2018 awards consist of one $10,000 first-place grant, four $1,000 runner-up grants, and five $500 book grant awards for each librarian’s respective public library. In addition, America’s biggest publishing group will make book donations to all of the winners, which are distributed all over the United States. Here is an overview of this year’s winners and their libraries or specific projects.

• Gretchen Caserotti – $10,000 Grant Recipient, Library Director – “Tiny Library at the Hill” – Meridian Library District – Meridian, Idaho
• Lisa Goldstein – $1,000 Grant Recipient, Youth Wing Division Manager – “Book Match Teen” – Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn, New York
• Jennifer McCormack – $1,000 Grant Recipient, Director – “ELL Summer Reading Program” – Nashua Public Library – Nashua, New Hampshire
• Meghan Petersen – $1,000 Grant Recipient, Archivist – “Amesbury Eats Equality Now” – Amesbury Public Library – Amesbury, Massachusetts
• Heather Weleski – $1,000 Grant Recipient, Children and Youth – “Feed Your Minds” – Community Library of Castle Shannon – Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
• Christine Gramm – $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Library Manager – “Ged Testing Center” – Medina County District Library – Medina, Ohio
• Elizabeth LaRosee – $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Assistant Director/Emerging Tech – “Community Digital Media and Learning Lab” – Turner Free Library – Randolph, Massachusetts
• Elizabeth McIntyre – $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Director – “Barrow Book Partnership” – Piedmont Regional Libraries – Jefferson, Georgia
• Maria Sewall – $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, Children’s Librarian – “Bus Book Program” – Topsham Public Library – Topsham, Missouri
• Myra Shindler – $500 Book Grant Award Recipient, BJE Director – “The Veteran’s Day Teen Holocaust Forum” – Jewish Community Library and Resource Center – Scottsdale, Arizona