HUBBARD — A retired children’s librarian was one of 10 nationwide recipients of the “I Love My Librarian Award” from the American Library Association.

Mary Anne Russo, retired Hubbard Public Library Children’s Librarian, was nominated by community members for her expertise, dedication and profound impact on the people in her community, according to a news release from the ALA.

Russo recently retired from library service after 42 years and transformed the Children’s Room at Hubbard Public Library from a dark basement into a vibrant, welcoming space that inspires learning and imagination.

“Through a thoughtful redesign featuring natural light, dedicated program areas and a sensory garden, Russo created a hub for families and children. Beyond the space, she launched impactful initiatives, including school outreach programs, a Toy Lending Library recognized by ALA, an intergenerational reading and activities program coordinated with a local assisted living facility, and a permanent StoryWalk, leaving a lasting legacy of innovation, access and community engagement,” her nomination states.

“As ALA marks its 150th commemoration, we recognize the remarkable contributions these ten librarians make for our communities, for learning, for our health and for the public good,” said ALA President Sam Helmick. “These librarians are people who power possibilities in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our places of higher learning. Their leadership, creativity and innovation strengthen the communities they serve, and we are proud to honor them.”

“I am so pleased to present Mrs. Mary Anne Russo as the American Library Association’s winner of the 2026 ‘I Love My Librarian Award,'” said Lorena Stearns, the director of Hubbard Public Library. “Having recently retired from Hubbard Public Library after 37 years as the community’s beloved children’s room librarian, Mary Anne is the ideal recipient for this prestigious, national award. With a full heart, I can honestly say this award is the perfect tribute to Mary Anne’s dedication, creative expertise and profound legacy her career has made upon children and families throughout her years as the children’s librarian. The Hubbard community has been blessed by Mary Anne’s tenure with the library, and I am delighted that in turn she has been honored to receive this distinction.”

ALA received more than 1,300 nominations from library users for this year’s award, which demonstrates the breadth of impact of librarians across the country. Nominations focused on librarians’ outstanding service, including expanding access to literacy and library services, outreach within their communities, supporting the needs of the most vulnerable and more. This year’s award recipients include three academic librarians, four public librarians and three school librarians.

LIBRARY GRANT

In addition, the ALA has awarded the Hubbard Public Library $10,000 in library accessibility funding. It was one of 300 small and rural libraries to receive $300 million nationwide.

The 300 funded proposals represent 46 U.S. states and the Northern Mariana Islands. Of the selected libraries, 73% serve communities with populations of 5,000 or fewer. The Hubbard Public Library also received grant funding from this program in Round One in May 2023, when it received $10,000.

“The outcomes of (these grants) will not only impact communities, but also the library workers who wrote the grant, plan community conversations and implement their projects,” Helmick said. “This initiative has been a catalyst for ongoing disability access. It will continue to teach nearly 900 library workers the fundamentals of accessibility and guiding improvements to their library’s services across the board and will continue to do so for years to come.”

“Hubbard Public Library is honored to have been selected as a recipient of this grant. This grant gives us the opportunity to further our mission of providing broader accessibility to resources for all demographics, and in this case enabling more empowerment for the neurodiverse,” Stearns said “We are doubly pleased to be collaborating with Hubbard Exempted Village Schools to ensure student needs and interests are met.”

Selected libraries have identified a primary audience they wish to serve (e.g., people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities). Library staff will conduct community input-gathering sessions with the identified primary audience to discuss accessibility in the community and library to collaboratively identify existing resources, needs/gaps and priorities. The libraries will then use the funds to create services or improve their facilities, services or program offerings based on the needs identified by their audience.