Adjunct Lecturer Zachary Stier has been selected for a 2026 I Love My Librarian Award. Honorees were recognized for their outstanding public service accomplishments.
At Ericson Public Library in Boone, Iowa, Stier—known to many as "Mr. Z"—has spent 15 years transforming the library into a hub for discovery by connecting literacy with science and creating opportunities for learners of all ages. Through original programming and more than 50 community partnerships, he has helped bring a world-class library experience to the town’s 12,500 residents.
Stier was a co-creator of the library's popular Little Engines project, an early learning initiative that uses the reading-tracking platform Beanstack to engage families through interactive and educational activities. The program has led to "tens of thousands of additional minutes spent reading," according to one nominator.
His work also extends beyond the library through the Activating Community Voices program, which brings together experts, community leaders, and librarians to address topics ranging from STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education to loneliness and mental health. The program highlights the role libraries play in strengthening communities and repairing our social fabric.
"Mr. Z has become a cornerstone of our community, creating a welcoming space where children and parents come together to learn, imagine, and grow," wrote one of his nominators.
Stier was selected from more than 1,300 nominations from library users nationwide for the 2026 award. As part of the honor, he will receive a $5,000 cash prize, along with complimentary registration and a travel stipend to attend the American Library Association (ALA)'s Annual Conference in Chicago.
The I Love My Librarian Award is sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, with additional support from the New York Public Library, and is administered by the ALA. Since 2008, more than 25,000 nominations have been submitted by library users recognizing librarians who go above and beyond to support their communities.