Greenwich librarian receives I Love My Librarian Award

Jane E. Martellino recognized with national public service honor

CHICAGO — Jane E. Martellino, K-5 media specialist at the International School  at Dundee (ISD) in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a winner of this year’s I Love My Librarian Award. Recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) for creating a vibrant culture of literacy on campus, she was selected from 1,865 nominations from library users across the country.

Martellino has cultivated a love of reading at her school by spearheading engaging programs, from a Battle of the Books tournament to her “one book, one school” initiative. She also founded Connecticut’s first K-3 book award program, The Charter Oak Book Award. Since it launched in 2010, more than 60 schools have participated each year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Martellino has kept the school community engaged and inspired. She created a tablet-based interface for students to access digital books, daily read-alouds, learning resources and personalized reference assistance, all from the safety of their homes. She has also worked to keep everyone’s spirits up by sharing inspiring daily video messages featuring her dog, Maggie.

“Her brilliant mind literally never stops and everyone at ISD benefits from her enthusiasm, intelligence, and incomparable creative energy,” her nominators wrote. “Her passion for books is so palpable, so contagious, that you simply have to be a part of it.”

Martellino and this year’s nine other honorees will each receive a $5,000 cash prize, a $750 donation to their library and complimentary registration to ALA’s 2021 Virtual Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits. The virtual award ceremony will take place during the conference at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 and will be available to stream live at

Since the award’s inception in 2008, library users have shared more than 20,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond to promote literacy, expand access to technology and support diversity and inclusion in their communities. Information regarding previous award winners can be found on the I Love My Librarian website at 

Carnegie Corporation of New York generously sponsors the I Love My Librarian Award. The New York Public Library also supports the award. ALA administers the award through its Communications and Marketing Office, which promotes the value of libraries and librarians. 

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 “to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation’s work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy.

About The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves nearly 17 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice of libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

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