Meet the 2022 I Love My Librarian Award Winners; American Libraries, January 10, 2022

 Chase Ollis, American Libraries ; Meet the 2022 I Love My Librarian Award Winners

ALA honors 10 librarians for outstanding service

"On January 10 the American Library Association (ALA) announced the 10 winners of this year’s I Love My Librarian Award, nominated by patrons for their expertise, dedication, and profound impact in their communities. Three academic librarians, three public librarians, three school librarians, and one prison librarian are receiving the award this year...

John Paul Mahofski

Correctional Librarian

Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, Maryland

During his time at Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI), Mahofski (or “Mr. M,” as most of his patrons know him) has introduced programs that have improved library and information services for the prison population he serves, notably creative writing, typing, and summer reading. For some programs, participants received a certificate of completion.

When the pandemic forced the library space to close, Mahofski pivoted library services to a bookmobile model, delivering materials and information requests to and from inmates multiple times a week. The bookmobile model was extended to similarly transport homework between teachers and students in ECI, and it was later adapted by other institutional libraries.

Mr. M “does everything in his power to make the brief time we have in the library an enjoyable and useful experience,” his nominator wrote."