Topeka librarian Lissa Staley wins Library Journal Mover & Shaker Award
Library Journal (LJ) today announced recipients of the 2024 Movers & Shakers awards. Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library's Community Connections Librarian Lissa Staley received a Mover & Shaker award as a Community Builder.
"This is a prestigious award for libraries and we are proud Lissa has been recognized for all her work with community organizations and individuals in Topeka and Shawnee County," said Marie Pyko, library CEO.
Staley's work includes coordinating community navigators to provide individuals walk-in assistance at the library to identify needs and make referrals. She supports voter education and non-profit organizations, coordinates library trivia and the local National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) activities. Staley said she enjoys helping people make connections to the community and each other. This is all in addition to helping people find great reads and access library resources.
"I’m a reference librarian who has been redefining what it means to be a reference librarian and trying to keep reference librarians relevant to communities given the internet and smartphones and misinformation and constant technology change," said Staley.
The new class of Movers and Shakers, showcased in LJ’s May print 2024 issue and online, represent an inspiring sample of the work being done in and around libraries today.
“Our 2024 Movers represent a range of innovative, proactive, and supportive work; they are imaginative and kind and brave in a world that needs those qualities—and the results they produce—very much,” said Library Journal Executive Editor Lisa Peet.
Library Journal is a trade publication serving librarians and library workers. Sharing important news and perspectives that shape the field, surfacing best practices and innovations to invest in, identifying emerging leaders, and acting as an advocate for librarians and libraries, Library Journal has been leading the field through the great changes and innovations required to keep libraries strong for nearly 150 years.
