Awards

2026 Justin Winsor Library History Award Winner

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The American Library Association’s (ALA) Library History Roundtable (LHRT) Justin Winsor Award Committee is pleased to announce the winner of this year’s essay award. The recipient of this year’s award is Alex Poole for his essay “‘The Michael Jordan of library systems’: Carla D. Hayden and the Black Liberal Tradition.”

Poole is an Associate Professor at Drexel University’s School of Computer and Information Sciences. His research interests include history, archives and records management, information practices and behaviors, digital curation, and digital humanities. His work has appeared in The Library Quarterly, The Journal of Documentation, The American Archivist, and Digital Humanities Quarterly.

Poole’s essay serves as the first scholarly treatment of Carla Hayden, and it situates Hayden’s work in the larger context of the long Black freedom struggle. By relying on a wide range of primary source materials, the author traces her career from the Chicago Public Library and Enoch Pratt Free Library to the office of Librarian of Congress. The essay highlights her role as Black woman librarian in the post-direct action phase of the Black freedom struggle, focusing on politics of respectability. The award’s committee commends the essay’s careful attention to the life and work of an important and contemporary figure in library history.

The Justin Winsor Library History Award is given annually to recognize the best essay written in English on library history. The award is named in honor of the distinguished nineteenth-century librarian, historian, and bibliographer who was also ALA’s first president. It consists of a certificate and a $500 cash award, as well as an invitation to have the winner’s essay considered for publication in Libraries: Culture, History, and Society.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America’s libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

Call for Submissions: Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award

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The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) invites submissions for the Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award, named in honor of ALA’s first president, the distinguished nineteenth-century librarian, historian, and bibliographer. This award is given annually and recognizes the best essay written in English on library history. The winner will receive a certificate, a $500 cash award, and an invitation to have their essay considered for publication in Libraries: Culture, History, and Society.

Criteria

Manuscripts submitted should not be previously published, previously submitted for publication, or under consideration for publication or another award. To be considered, essays should

  • embody original historical research on a significant topic in library history
  • be based on primary sources whenever possible
  • use good English composition and superior style.

The Library History Round Table is particularly interested in works that place the subject within its broader historical, social, cultural, and political context and make interdisciplinary connections.

Applicants are encouraged to follow the submission guidelines for Libraries: Culture, History, and Society when formatting their manuscripts. Submissions should conform to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, using the author-date system, and should not exceed thirty typewritten, double-spaced pages.

Submissions and Selection

Applicants must submit their manuscripts electronically. Applications must be received by Thursday April 30th. The application deadline is firm; submissions received after the deadline will not be forwarded to the committee.

Please upload your manuscripts electronically via the web form: LHRT Justin Winsor Award Submission Form.

Interested applicants can direct inquiries to Rachel Trnka, Justin Winsor Award Committee Chair, rachel.trnka@ucf.edu; please include “LHRT Winsor Award” in the subject line.

Call for Submissions: Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award

trnkarLeave a comment

The Library History Round Table (LHRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) invites submissions for the Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award. The Justin Winsor Library History Essay Award is given annually to recognize the best essay written in English on library history. The award is named in honor of the distinguished nineteenth-century librarian, historian, and bibliographer who was also ALA’s first president. It consists of a certificate and a $500 cash award, as well as an invitation to have the winner’s essay considered for publication in Libraries: Culture, History, and Society.

Criteria

Manuscripts submitted should not be previously published, previously submitted for publication, or under consideration for publication or another award. To be considered, essays should embody original historical research on a significant topic in library history, be based on primary sources whenever possible, and use good English composition and superior style. The Library History Round Table is particularly interested in works that place the subject within its broader historical, social, cultural, and political context and make interdisciplinary connections with print culture and information studies.

Essays should be organized in a similar form to articles published in Libraries: Culture, History, and Society, and conform to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. Papers should not exceed thirty-five typewritten, double-spaced pages (including endnotes and references).

Submissions and Selection

Applicants must submit their manuscripts electronically. Applications must be received by February 20, 2025. The application deadline is firm; submissions received after the deadline will not be forwarded to the committee.

Please upload your manuscripts electronically via the web form:  https://airtable.com/shrYdO92X6tfTW3oe

Interested applicants can direct inquiries to Rachel Trnka, Justin Winsor Award Committee Chair, rachel.trnka@ucf.edu, please use LHRT Winsor Award in the subject line.