The School Library Association (SLA) is marking two decades of recognising excellence as it prepares for the 20th anniversary of the prestigious School Librarian of the Year Award, this year sponsored by Browns Books.

Organised by the SLA, the celebrated awards have become a cornerstone of recognition for secondary school library staff who dedicate themselves to promoting literacy, imagination, discovery and learning.

The awards ceremony, taking place in October, will also celebrate the Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year Award and the SLA’s Enterprise of the Year Award, sponsored by Reading Cloud. Shortlists for all three awards will be revealed in July.

The Secondary School Librarian of the Year Award

The Secondary School Librarian of the Year Award highlights the achievements of staff who put reading at the heart of students' education and support learning throughout the whole school community. 

Clare Smith, Sales Director at Browns Books said, “The School Librarian of the Year Award is more than just recognition – it is a powerful investment in education and literacy.  School librarians ignite a lifelong passion for reading, foster curiosity, and equip students with essential learning skills. By supporting this award, Browns Books champion the invaluable contributions of these dedicated professionals, who strengthen educational communities, and inspire excellence. Great librarians shape great minds, and recognising their dedication, paves the way for a brighter future for students everywhere.”

The Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year Award recognises a team that works together to ensure their school library positively impacts all the pupils in their primary school. Usborne’s sponsorship of this award is a continuation of founder Peter Usborne’s lifetime commitment to supporting literacy.

The Enterprise of the Year Award

The Enterprise of the Year Award celebrates one-off or progressive projects which contribute towards reading and literacy in schools. This could include a large refurbishment, or a smaller scale project such as a whole school information literacy, reading project, or book event. These Awards will be sponsored by Reading Cloud for the third year running.

Victoria Dilly, CEO of the SLA said, “These Awards highlight the importance of school libraries and the incredible staff that work within them. School libraries provide precious and all-important opportunities to help children discover and sustain a love of reading, as well as supporting children’s personal, social and academic development. To look back through the history of the School Librarian of the Year Award winners over the past 20 years is to look at a long list of passionate, pro-active individuals who have dedicated their careers to improving young people’s access to books, learning and critical thinking. As the new CEO of The School Library Association, it is exciting to have inherited a long history of supporting and celebrating all those responsible for delivering reading provision in schools.”

Nicola Usborne, Managing Director of Usborne said, "There are so many teachers and librarians doing all they can to create inspiring libraries for their students – libraries like the one at Steyning Church of England Primary, the impressive winner of last year's inaugural Peter Usborne Primary School Library Award. We are so pleased to be continuing sponsors of this award and to celebrate the knowledgeable and committed staff and innovative spaces that give children vital access to books that can inspire curiosity, inform and delight."

Emma McCrea at Reading Cloud said, “We're delighted to support the SLA Enterprise Awards this year, recognising and celebrating the vital contributions school libraries make to championing literacy and reading within their school community and encouraging a love of reading.”

The School Library Association annual awards rely entirely on sponsor funding and the SLA is grateful to all the sponsors, past and present, without whom these awards would not be possible.

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