If you love your librarian, say it with the possibility of $5,000 (and a plaque).

As Susan Orlean once said (to Lit Hub’s main source of librarian wisdom, Kristen Arnett): Librarians are heroic. Obviously, as a literary website, we love librarians on principle. But principle doesn’t pay the bills! You know what does? $5,000 (depending on the size of the bills) and a plaque (if you’ve been asked to pay for a plaque you broke, or replace it with any other plaque).

All this to say: ilovelibraries, an initiative of the American Library Association, is accepting nominations for the I Love My Librarian Award! They’ll select 10 exceptional librarians to receive $5,000 along with a plaque and a travel stipend to attend the award ceremony.

Nominees must have a master degree from an ALA accredited program and must currently work at “a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.” So get to nominating! Because you can’t spell “We should pay librarians more so they don’t have to rely on contests to make a living wage” without “librarians”!