We are pleased to announce that the William H. Hannon Library is the recipient of the 2021 ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award. This is one of the highest honors a university library can receive at the national level. In receiving this honor, Loyola Marymount University joins the ranks of institutions such as Cornell, the University of Virginia, and the University of Washington in being recognized as universities with libraries that significantly impact their students and contribute to the mission of their parent institutions.
In receiving the award, Dean of the Library Kris Brancolini said: “At the William H. Hannon Library, we continually strive to be the best versions of ourselves. We are driven by our campus culture to be innovative, inclusive, and collaborative. The Jesuit and Marymount values of Loyola Marymount University require us to consider who is left out in any conversation and to identify where we can do better. We are thrilled to receive this honor and hope that our work can serve as a model for libraries of all shapes and sizes.”
The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) is the largest professional organization for academic librarians and an arm of the American Library Association. Their annual award recognizes academic librarians and staff who work together as a team to develop academic libraries that are outstanding in furthering the educational missions of their institutions. The award is given to three academic libraries each year in one of three categories: college, community college, and university. Hannon Library was recognized in the “university” category.
“The 2021 award recipients demonstrate strength and innovation in the face of a global health crisis, a clear commitment to student success and equity, and engagement with their local and campus communities,” said ACRL Interim Executive Director Kara J. Malenfant. “Receiving an Excellence in Academic Libraries Award is a tribute to each library and its entire staff for outstanding services, programs, and leadership.”
Hannon Library is being recognized alongside Davidson College and Tulsa Community College. Previous winners of the award can be found on the ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries website. There, you will also find our full 78-page application dossier which includes information about how Hannon Library:
- impacts students through teaching information literacy concepts
- collaborates with faculty to enrich classroom experiences through primary sources
- connects with students, faculty, and staff through creative and innovative programming
- acquires and collects new resources that support the Jesuit-Marymount mission of LMU
- supports professionals in the library and information science field by creating spaces for librarians of color and opportunities for research development
We are extremely excited about this moment and wish we could celebrate together in person. We are planning to host a virtual celebration later this Spring.
“The William H. Hannon Library demonstrated a clear case of initiatives that bolster the institution’s mission, in particular encouraging learning, educating the whole person, and social justice,” said Lauren Pressley, chair of the 2021 Excellence in Academic Libraries Awards Committee and associate dean for research and learning services at the University of Washington. “The library has embraced evidence-based practices and built a culture of assessment which is evident in the outcomes of their initiatives.”
John Jackson, head of outreach and communications for the William H. Hannon Library, said of the award: “This award recognizes the incredible impact that Hannon library has on the learning outcomes of LMU students. Moreover, it shows how we go above and beyond to promote social justice and innovation in our field. This award is a validation of all the work we are doing and an inspiration for us to strive to do more.”