School librarians are invited to apply for a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Nominations for the 2021 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award will be accepted until May 5, 2021.
In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on programming, submissions of virtual programs are highly encouraged.
Eligibility
School libraries, public or private, that serve K-8 students are eligible. Nominated programs must have taken place during the current school year (2020-21). Programs that are still in progress as of the award deadline are eligible, and librarians are encouraged to self-nominate.
Eligible humanities programs may be focused in many subject areas, including social studies, poetry, drama, art, music, language arts, foreign language and culture. Programs should focus on broadening perspectives and helping students understand the world and their place in it. They should be initiated and coordinated by the school librarian and exemplify the role of the library program in advancing the overall educational goals of the school.
Previous winners
Recent Jaffarian Award-winners have included:
- Junior Ambassadors, a program that brings a global perspective to students through a book club focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
- Poverty and Philanthropy, a program where students researched famous philanthropists, including how much money they donate, which nonprofit they support, and why.
- Tales of the Crypt: Danville’s Living History, a program that used a historic local cemetery as the basis for a multidisciplinary student project.
- Greensboro Sit-In Exhibit, an exhibition about a well-known protest of the civil rights movement.
Named after the late Sara Jaffarian, a school librarian and longtime ALA member, ALA’s Jaffarian Award was established in 2006 to recognize and promote excellence in humanities programming in elementary and middle-school libraries. It is presented annually by the ALA Public Programs Office in cooperation with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).
