National School Library of the Year Award

Established in 1963, the award recognizes school libraries as a unique and essential part of their learning community. NSLY honors school libraries exemplifying implementation of AASL's National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries.

The school librarian must be a personal member of AASL. Only individual schools are eligible to apply.

*Please note: Beginning with the 2022 award cycle the NSLY award is available only to individual schools and not to school districts.

The following elements are the groundwork for an effective school library and must be present for consideration:

1. The school library’s mission, goals, and objectives relate to the mission, goals, and objectives of the school’s and district’s long-range plan.
2. The school library is continuously assessed and evaluated to ensure that it meets the needs of all members of the learning community.
3. The school library is a dynamic learning environment that bridges the gap between equitable access and opportunities for all learners.
4. The library scheduling is thoughtfully designed to ensure learners have access to school library services, spaces, and resources at the point of need.

Applicants must submit an electronic portfolio. The electronic portfolio must include:

1. Description of the Community Served
2. School Profile, Digital Profile, Staffing Profile, Expenditure Report, and Collection Report
3. Keystones
4. Evidence for how the school library demonstrates each indicator under the following Shared Foundations: Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Engage, Explore
5. Letters of Endorsement

Download Rubric

Download Copy of Application

* Please note: This downloadable version is for informational purposes only. All applications must be submitted online, via the Apply Now button that will appear at the top of the page when the next award season opens in early September.

Allison Cline
Deputy Executive Director

*Please note: Beginning with the 2022 award cycle the NSLY award is available only to individual schools and not to school districts.

2023 West Maple Elementary School, Bloomfield, Michigan

2022 No recipient

2021 Calvert County Public Schools

2020 Mesquite Independent School District, Mesquite, Texas

2019 High School District 214, Arlington Heights, Il.

2018 Lewis High School, Springfield, Va.

2017 Baltimore County Public Schools, Md.

2016 Veterans Memorial Elementary School, Naples, Fla

2015 Blue Valley High School, Stilwell, Kansas

2014 Eaglecrest High School, Centennial, Colo.

2013 New Augusta South Elementary School, Ind.
2013 Pennsylvania Avenue School, N.J.
2013 Swan Valley High School, Mich.

2012 Hinsdale Township High School District 86
2012 South Texas Independent School District

2011 Pine Grove Middle School, N.Y.
2011 Henrico County Public Schools, Va.
2011 North East Independent School District, Texas

2010 Perry Meridian Middle School, Ind.
2010 New Canaan High School, Conn.

2009 Livonia Central School District, N.Y.
2009 Robert E. Clow Elementary School, Ill.
2009 Blue Valley North High School, Kan.

2008 Luella Elementary School, Ga.
2008 Simsbury High School, Conn.

2007 Norman Public Schools, Okla.
2007 Harpeth Hall, Tenn.
2007 North Elementary School, Ind.

2006 Hilliard City School District, Ohio
2006 Biblioteca Las Americas, Texas
2006 Kapolei High School, Hawaii

2005 William Floyd School District, N.Y.
2005 Downers Grove South High School, Ill.
2005 Henry Brader Elementary School, Del.

2004 Northside Independent School District, Texas
2004 Boston Arts Academy/Fenway High School, Mass.
2004 Lois Lenski Elementary School, Colo.

2003 Millard Public School District, Neb.
2003 Liberty Public School District, Mo.
2003 Cherry Creek High School, Colo.

2002 James River High School, Va.

2001 DeKalb County School Sysytem, Ga.
2001 Corbett Elementary School, Ariz.

2000 Irving Independent School District, Texas
2000 Londonderry School District #12, N.H.
2000 New Trier Township H.S., Ill.

1999 Lincoln Public Schools, Neb.

1998 Hunterdon Central Regional High School, N.J.

1997 Gwinnett County Public Schools, Ga
1997 Iowa City Community School District, Iowa
1997 Timothy Dwight Elementary School, Conn.

1996 Maine Township High School West, Ill.

1995 Southern Bluffs Elementary School, Wis.
1995 Smoky Hill H.S, Colo.

1994 Duneland School Corporation, Ind.
1994 Providence Senior High School, N.C.
1994 Lakeview Elementary School, Wis.

1993 Blue Valley School District USD 229, Kan.

1993 Indian Prairie School District 204, Ill.

1992 Fulton County School System, Ga.
1992 Manhattan/Ogden Unified School District 383, Kan.

1991 Irving Independent School District, Texas
1991 Beecher Road School, Conn.

1990 Greenboro Public Schools, N.C.
1990 Cherry Creek High School, Colo.

1989 Norman Public Schools, Okla.
1989 Middletown Enlarged City School District, N.Y.
1989 David A. Hickman High School, Mo.

1988 West Bloomfield Schools, Mich.
1988 Round Rock Independent School District, Texas

1987 Independent School District 47, Minn.
1987 Community Consolidated School District 62, Ill.
1987 Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, Calif.

1986 District 108, Ill.

1985 Shoreham-Wading River School District, N.Y.

1984 Riverside-Brookfield Township High School, Ill.
1984 Richmond School System, Va.

1983 no award given

1982 Shaker Heights City School District, Ohio

1981 Blue Valley School District, Kan.

1980 Irvine Unified School District, Calif.

1979 Greenwich Public Schools, Conn.

1978 Cobb County Public Schools,Ga.

1977 Los Alamitos School District, Calif.

1976 Littleton Public Schools, Colo.

1975 Rochester City Schools, N.Y.

1974 Cedar Rapids Community Schools, Iowa

1973 Duneland Community Schools, Ind.

1972 Atlanta Public Schools, Ga.

1971 Leflore County Schools, Miss.

1970 Alhambra School Distract, Ariz.

1969 Iowa City Community Schools, Iowa

1968 San Ramon Valley School District, Calif.

1967 Cleveland Public Schools, Ohio

1966 Albuquerque Public Schools, N.M.

1965 Dade County Public Schools, Fla.

1964 Durham County Schools, N.C.

1963 Anne Arundel County Schools, Md.