Two Delawareans have been chosen from 1,300 nominations nationwide for the I Love My Librarian Award from the American Library Association.
Ferris School Administrative Librarian Peggy Griffith and Wilmington Institute Free Library Executive Director Jamar Rahming were selected for the award, which celebrates librarians who have made a meaningful impact in their communities through exceptional service.
Griffith is being recognized for her outstanding dedication and commitment to fostering a love of learning and for her outstanding contributions, which include cataloging library materials, updating resources, repurposing old furniture to create a more inviting library space, and developing a library curriculum for Ferris School.
She leads library services for the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF), where she says she focused on transforming lives through access to education, literacy, and personal growth. My work primarily supports youth in secure facilities and the staff who serve them, bridging the gap between opportunity and empowerment.
“I believe libraries are not just repositories of books; they are catalysts for change,” she says in her LinkedIn profile. “They build bridges to opportunity, empathy, and community, and I am passionate about harnessing their power to address systemic barriers and create lasting impact.”
“We are fortunate to have Peggy on our team,” said Steve Yeatman, secretary of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. “Her commitment to ensuring youth have access to books benefits the youth we serve and highlights the important role librarians have in shaping futures.”
Rahming’s appointment as executive director of the Wilmington Institute Free Library in 2018 sparked what the judges described as a transformational rebirth for a public library that celebrated its 100th anniversary just a couple of years ago.
The library’s metamorphosis into a thriving educational, cultural, and literacy center is attributed mainly to Rahming’s leadership and his focus on community partnerships and fundraising. The library has partnered with local barbers to stock bookshelves for children inside barbershops, hosted “Pitch or Ditch” competitions for minority-owned small businesses to pitch their ideas and compete for cash prizes, and partnered with local nonprofit Harper’s Heart to open a diaper bank and community closet on the library’s second floor.
In a predominantly Black, working-class community where many residents rarely leave the city limits, Rahming has made it his mission to bring the world to Wilmington. During his tenure, visitors to the library have included LeVar Burton, Misty Copeland, Jenifer Lewis, Dolly Parton, and the cast of “A Different World.” In February, visitors will include Michael Vick and the casts of “What’s Happening” and “Cooley High.”
“Jamar Rahming is the epitome of a librarian who goes above and beyond, not only in his work but in his mission to transform lives through learning, inclusivity, and community engagement,” one of his nominators wrote. “His leadership has fundamentally reshaped the Wilmington Public Library and has positively impacted countless lives.”As part of their awards, Griffith and Rahming will each receive a $5,000 cash prize as well as complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend ALA’s LibLearnX event in Phoenix.
The I Love My Librarian Award is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional support from the New York Public Library, and is administered by the American Library Association. Since 2008, library users have shared more than 24,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond to promote literacy, expand access to technology, and support diversity and inclusion in their communities.
Peter Osborne has more than 15 years of experience as an award-winning business reporter and editor, leading two papers (the Delaware Business Times and Dallas Business Journal) to recognition as the nation’s most improved business publications. Osborne also helped launch The News Journal’s now-defunct Business Monday section and worked in communications and business development for MBNA America and Bank of America.
Source: delawarelive.com…
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