Distinguished Librarian Award

University of Washington Librarians (UW Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma, Law Librarians), either full-time or part-time, with permanent, provisional, continuing or non-continuing status are eligible. Librarians with temporary appointments are not eligible. Members of the selection committee are not eligible during their term of service. A librarian may receive the award only once.

Anyone (supervisors, colleagues, faculty, staff, and students) may nominate a librarian for the Distinguished Librarian Award. Nominators should submit a completed nomination form and a letter of nomination (two pages maximum). The Selection Committee asks nominees for their CVs and the names of up to three people who could serve as references. The committee then contacts the references to ask for letters of support. Letters should discuss the nominee’s accomplishments and how they contribute to the Libraries and to the University. The Committee makes decisions based solely on the content of the nomination and support letters, and does not review additional materials or websites. After the awards are announced, each nominee will receive a copy of their nomination packet. Individuals nominated are kept in the pool for three years.

NOTE nominations for the 2026 Distinguished Librarian Award are now closed.

Questions about the Award and award process, contact  Anne Davis or Stephanie Lamson.

The award recognizes excellence in librarianship, especially in terms of impact on the academic community through innovative approaches to professional practice, research, and/or teaching and learning. Additional factors include creativity, leadership, service, scholarship, and demonstration of the University of Washington values of integrity, diversity, excellence, collaboration, innovation and respect.

September 2025 Dean of University Libraries appoints Selection Committee

September  29, 2025 – November 30, 2025: Selection Committee issues call for nominations

November 30, 2025: Deadline for nominations

December 12, 2025: Deadline for nominees to submit their CVs and names of the three references

January 12, 2026: Deadline for letters

January 2026: Nomination review

Spring 2026: Libraries recognition of all nominees / UW Awards of Excellence ceremony and reception (June 2026)

The selection committee is appointed by the Dean of University Libraries, and is composed of librarians drawn from the three UW campuses and a representative designated by the chair of the Faculty Council on University Libraries. A representative from the Information School may also be appointed. The Dean of the University Libraries designates one member of the committee to serve as its chair/co-chair which, in practice, are the immediate past winners of the Award. The selection committee issues the call for nominations, reviews the nomination packets, and makes recommendations to the Dean of University Libraries who makes the final decision.

2025-26 Selection Committee

Anne Davis, Collections Coordinator (Odegaard) & Anthropology Liaison Librarian (co-chair)

Stephanie Lamson, Director, Preservation Services (co-chair)

Cate Gerhart, Head, Monographic Cataloging Unit

Junghae Lee, Co-Interim Head, Metadata & Cataloging Initiatives Unit

Caitlin Maloy, Nursing and Research Services Librarian, Health Sciences Library

Penelope Wood, Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Librarian, UW Bothell

Faculty Council on University Libraries Representative: David Beck, Director of Research, eScience Institute