From book bans to basement makeovers: 10 win I Love My Librarian Award for making a difference

The I Love My Librarian Award celebrates librarians making a difference. Valerie Byrd Fort fights book bans at the University of South Carolina. Joanne Doucette mentors biomedicine students in Massachusetts. Mary Anne Russo transformed a basement into a family space in Ohio. These are just a few of the 10 winners who receive a $5,000 prize and a $750 stipend for the American Library Association's convention in Chicago. The winners were chosen from over 1,300 submissions. ALA President Sam Helmick praises their contributions to communities and learning. The awards began in 2008, honoring librarians' leadership and innovation.