Partnership can be powerful, and when educators collaborate, students benefit.

To raise up and celebrate librarians and teachers teaming up to enhance learning, School Library Journal (SLJ) is launching the Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award.

Sponsored by The Library Corporation (TLC) , the Award honors two K–12 educators—a library professional and a teacher—for stellar achievement in working together to engage students and foster curious lifetime learners.

"TLC is pleased to partner with School Library Journal to present this prestigious award,” says Annette H. Murphy, CEO and President of TLC. “We appreciate the valuable leaders and innovators who enhance library usage in our schools every day and who deserve to be recognized for their achievements."

Do you know such a pair of worthy educators? Nominations for the inaugural award are welcome from across the K–12 community and will be accepted starting today through August 23.

Award criteria

A panel of judges comprised of SLJ editors; a TLC representative; a school principal; and a district level leader will evaluate award applications per the following criteria:

• Outstanding collaboration in serving student need
• Exemplary use of technology tools
• Creativity in programming toward learning goals
• Effective integration of library services with curricula
• Demonstrated student engagement

The winning school librarian and teacher will each receive a $1,000 cash prize. The pair will also be profiled in a feature article to appear in the January 2022 issue of SLJ.

How to apply

Nominating statements of up to two pages should describe why the nominees are deserving of recognition, detailing their achievements toward the above criteria.
Statements should also include:

• Budget information (school and library, and technology funding)
• Student demographics
• A description of the community served

Two letters of recommendation must also accompany the application.

All required application elements, including both recommendation letters, must be emailed in one submission to SLJcollaborationaward@mediasourceinc.com.

Winners will be announced September 27, 2021.

For more information, visit slj.com/sljcollaborationaward.