Shasteen receives the 2018 Polestar Award

Adjunct Lecturer Ruth Shasteen (CAS '13) has received the 2018 Polestar Award from the Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE) for her contributions to school librarianship. Shasteen served as district librarian at Neoga CUSD and high school librarian at Central A&M High School in Moweaqua, both in the state of Illinois. In addition to being a school librarian, she also taught for many years in Illinois classrooms at Sullivan Jr. High School, Sullivan High School, and Bethany Jr-Sr. High School. 

"At Neoga, Ruth shared her passion for all types of literacies and shed a voluminous light on library studies and what a library could be. Under her direction and tireless efforts, our libraries—three at the time—became working models of Information Power," said Alicia Manuel Kessler, technology coordinator at Neoga CUSD #3.

Since retiring as a school librarian in 2012, Shasteen has continued to leave her mark on the profession, teaching graduate-level courses to future school librarians at the University of Illinois and Illinois State University. At the iSchool, she currently teaches School Library Media Center (IS 516AO) and Cataloging for School Libraries (IS 590CB1). She also co-teaches practicum and student teaching seminars and supervises student teachers in field placements in school libraries.

"As a school librarian, Ruth has influenced the lives of countless students. She has then gone on to teach others how to be school librarians—causing a ripple effect to provide even more children with high quality school libraries. In addition, her role in AISLE and other committees has influenced how we define quality library programs in Illinois," said Christy Semande, librarian at Canton Union School District #66, who nominated Shasteen for the award. 

Shasteen has served on numerous AISLE committees and task forces and has co-chaired the newest version of Linking for Learning, which connects school library media programs to core curriculum, information literacy, and the Illinois Learning Standards.

Georgeann Burch, former iSchool K-12 coordinator who retired in 2016, noted in her letter of support the significant impact of Shasteen's career on librarians and students. "She has truly helped shape Illinois school libraries to be student focused, welcoming places, no matter what the space looks like or the resources that are available. Ruth Shasteen is truly deserving of the ISLMA/AISLE Polestar Award, as one person who has definitely 'made outstanding contributions to school library media programs in Illinois.'"

Shasteen received the award on November 2 at the AISLE Annual Conference in Tinley Park.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

New book explores how AI is reshaping cultural heritage

Glen Layne-Worthey, associate director for research support services for the HathiTrust Research Center (HTRC), and J. Stephen Downie, professor and HTRC co-director, have edited a new book, Navigating Artificial Intelligence for Cultural Heritage Organisations, which was recently released by UCL Press. 

Jung to join the faculty

The iSchool is pleased to announce that Yonghan Jung will join the faculty as an assistant professor in August 2025, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. 

Yonghan Jung

Aubin Le Quéré to join the faculty

The iSchool is pleased to announce that Marianne Aubin Le Quéré will join the faculty as an assistant professor in August 2026, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Aubin Le Quéré is a PhD candidate in the Department of Information Science at Cornell University. For the 2025-2026 academic year, she will be a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University's Center for Information Technology Policy.

Marianne Aubin Le Quere