Nominations for librarians in schools, colleges, community colleges and universities begin this week for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

Administered by the American Library Association’s Public Information Office and Campaign for America’s Libraries, the award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community.

Nominations for school and academic librarians continue through October 15.  All nominations are accepted electronically at www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

Up to 10 librarians in public, school and academic libraries will be selected honored at a ceremony and reception in New York at TheTimesCenter, hosted by The New York Times.  Each winner also will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a $500 travel stipend to attend the awards reception.  In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Nominees will be judged by a selection committee based on quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources and commitment shown in helping library users.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.  Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.

For more information, visit www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.