Each year UELMA recognizes 3 nominated Utah school employees for contributions to their respective school libraries. Nominations are open a few months before the annual March conference and announced at the general meeting. Please click here for the nomination form. And if you need some tips, here are some suggestions.
Award Categories
| Teacher Librarian of the year | Paraprofessional of the year | Administrator of the year | |
| 2023 | Shanna Lewis | Lynae Puckett | Christine Durst |
| 2022 | Shelly Hamilton | Sarah Stevenson | Nick Harris |
| 2021 | Bill Goodrich | Britteny Candelaria | Heather Hardy |
| 2020 | Amy Jamison | Jessica Smith | James Wilson |
| 2019 | Erin Heywood | Crystal Hopkins | Carolyn Gough |
| 2018 | Michelle Asay | Kari Gibson | Tiffany Hall |
| 2017 | Lori Gilman | Joann Topham | Aaron Hogge |
| 2016 |
- Teacher Librarian of the Year (Certified) Applicants must meet state requirements for school library media certification and be currently employed in a media specialist, teacher librarian or equivalent position. They can be working in either a public or private school at a site level.
- Library Paraprofessional of the Year (Non-Certified, Classified) Honors para professionals working in school libraries as assistants, media clerks or similar titles. Nominees are not certified with the state endorsement of Library Media.
- Administrator of the Year (Principal or District Level Supervisor) This award honors administrators with direct responsibility for a school or group of schools who have made influential, unique and sustained contributions to effective school library programs.
- 2024 Nomination Forms
- Teacher Librarian Nomination Form
- Library Paraprofessional Nomination Form
- Administrator Nomination Form
Judging and Criteria
A panel comprised of UELMA board members and the conference board members will judge nominees based on the criteria:
- Exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and school community
- Creativity in programming and use of content
- Collaboration with teacher peers, staff, and administrators
- Effective integration of library services with curricula
- Demonstrated student engagement
- Exemplary use of technology tools
- Outreach to parents, families
- Effective promotion of the library and what it offers