Memphis, Tennessee, librarian receives I Love My Librarian Award

Cathy Evans recognized with prestigious national public service honor

CHICAGO –Cathy Evans, director of libraries at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee, is a winner of this year’s I Love My Librarian Award. Recognized for her leadership and for transforming the lives of students, faculty and the community at large, Evans is one of only 10 librarians in the country to receive this national honor.

Nominated by colleagues and beloved by students, Evans is honored for her efforts to create a culture of reading by ensuring that all students are informed, critical thinkers who are prepared to contribute to a global society. Her nominators also noted her ability to bring faculty, students and alumni together through unique and compelling library programs, including author events, book clubs and discussion programs. 

The James Frederick Smith Library at St. Mary’s Episcopal School plays an integral part within the learning community, providing a warm and welcoming environment for students to explore difficult topics through innovative library programs like the “Fireside Chat.”  The library’s fireplace sets the stage for students to lead courageous conversations with faculty and their peers, exploring such issues as gun control, Confederate monuments, mental illness and adoption. It has become a comfortable forum for open and meaningful discussions. 

Evans works in collaboration with school guidance counselors to purchase and continually update self-help books on relevant student issues such as anxiety, eating disorders and divorce. The books are in an isolated section of the library to promote privacy, and students are encouraged to take the books without checking them out in order to protect their anonymity. 

The American Library Association (ALA) receives I Love My Librarian Award nominations from the general public that showcase the lasting contributions of dynamic librarians working in public, school, college, community college and university libraries. This year library users nationwide submitted 1,974 detailing how their favorite librarians have gone above and beyond to improve community members’ lives.

Since the award’s inception in 2008, ALA has selected up to 10 librarians from a pool of hundreds of nominations. This year’s award winners will each receive a $5,000 cash prize, a plaque and a travel stipend to attend the I Love My Librarian Award ceremony in Philadelphia on Jan. 25, 2020, at 3 p.m. during ALA’s Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits. The event will be streamed via Facebook Live at . 

Over the last decade, library supporters have shared more than 19,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond to connect them to information, educational opportunities and critical technology. Information regarding previous award winners, can be found on the I Love My Librarian website at

Carnegie Corporation of New York generously sponsors the I Love My Librarian Award. The New York Public Library and the New York Times are award co-sponsors. The ALA administers the award through ALA’s Communications and Marketing Office, which promotes the value of libraries and librarians. 

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 “to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation’s work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy.

About The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves nearly 17 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.