ROCKLEDGE, Florida – Julie Hatsell Wales of McNair Magnet Middle School was recently named one of 10 librarians in the nation selected as winners of the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.
“Mrs. Wales is a phenomenal librarian,” said McNair principal, Rosette Brown. “Under her leadership our school library has received the Florida Power Library award at the state level twice. When we found out that Mrs. Wales won this national award, everyone was thrilled.” Brown continued, “Our McNair family is fortunate to have one of the best librarians in the nation at our school!”
Nationwide, more than 1,500 library patrons submitted nominations. Former McNair teacher, Shereen Luchten, along with contributions from many other faculty members submitted recommendations for Wales. Luchten, now a resource teacher in State and Federal Projects and Early College Academic Programs expressed, “I chose to nominate Julie for this honor, not only for the fabulous woman that she is, but for the dedication that she has for her colleagues, students and school. Julie has been an integral part in the success of McNair as a whole.”
The award is a collaborative program of Carnegie Corporation of New York, The New York Times and the American Library Association. It encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school and college, community college and university librarians for the difference they make in their communities.
Each winner was honored at an awards ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by The New York Times, on Dec. 18. They received a $5,000 cash award, a plaque, and a $500 travel stipend. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.
In order to be eligible, each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.