BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A librarian at Miles College is one of 10 people nationwide to be selected for the "I Love My Librarian" Award.
Candice Hardy, director of the C.A. Kirkdendoll Learning Resources Center at Miles, was selected out of 1,300 nominations from across the country for the $5,000 award, which is presented by the American Library Association.
“Librarians nationwide make positive impacts on their communities every day, and the inspiring stories from this year’s I Love My Librarian Award recipients prove how transformative their efforts can be to the lives of their patrons,” ALA President Cindy Hohl said in a statement Monday.
A 2009 graduate of Miles College, Hardy worked as an outreach librarian at the Birmingham Public Library before returning to her alma mater. At Miles, Hardy led a campuswide voter activation day before the presidential election, where students could discuss issues with local civic leaders. She also coordinated the installation of the “Roots and Renaissance: An African American Journey Through Art" exhibit, featuring art pieces curated by the Fairfield Black Art Collective from 25 local Black artists.
“Ms. Hardy deeply cares about every student that walks through the door of the library,” one of her nominators wrote. “She goes out of her way to make sure that everyone feels welcome. Whether it is a smile, a kind word, or simply being there to help, her presence makes it a comforting place for all.”
Hardy has hosted a career readiness event, a film screening and discussion panel on the Clotilda slave ship, as well as author visits.
Created in 2009, the I Love My Librarian Award is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with assistance from the New York Public Library.