2026 Friends of the NLM Medical Librarian Award

The Medical Librarian of the Year Award was renamed for 2026 with revised selection criteria to recognize an outstanding active or retired health sciences library professional who has made significant local, national, or international contributions to academic or hospital librarianship. The award also recognizes innovative programs or services that promote and advance the medical library profession.

The recipient will be publicly recognized at the Friends of the National Library of Medicine Annual Gala and Awards Celebration on September 16, 2026, in Washington, DC.

Nomination Requirements:

• Nominees should have a long-term commitment to medical librarianship and be employed as a medical/health sciences librarian in a position for at least five years.
• Nominee contributions should include demonstrated excellence and achievement with a lasting impact on health sciences librarianship using one or more of the following criteria:
  • Strategic & Visionary Thinking
• Creates innovative programs or services that improve outcomes
• Creates and communicates a positive vision within and beyond the organization
  • Leadership and Impact
• Inspires, guides, and leads with tangible outcomes
• Demonstrates the value of the profession through service to professional associations
  • Mentorship
• Serves as a mentor for junior librarians
• Fosters teamwork
  • Influence
• Collaborates on research and publications to build the profession’s knowledge base
• Impacts measurable outcomes on the institutions and communities served
  • Integrity
• Leads with an ethical approach to leadership (honesty, transparency, values)