GRAND FORKS – Aaron Stefanich, children’s services director at Grand Forks Public Library, has been named the North Dakota Library Association’s 2023 Librarian of the Year for outstanding contributions to the library profession in the state.
As the award recipient, Stefanich was recognized for enhancing children’s programming and leading a department remodel during the past year.
Stefanich’s influence and impact extend well beyond the walls of Grand Forks Public Library, said Wendy Wendt, library director. He has served on various state and national groups and committees, has presented sessions at conferences, and serves on the Caldecott and Sibert award committees, Wendt said.
Stefanich served on the 2018 Caldecott Award Committee and the 2023 Sibert Award Committee.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal is given annually for the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the preceding year. It is awarded to an illustrator by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the writer and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year.
To be eligible for the Librarian of the Year Award, established by the NDLA in 1992, the nominee must have accomplished one or more of the following: made notable contributions to the library profession, furthered significant developments of libraries in the state, or performed exemplary statewide service for an extended period of time.
Contributed
Stefanich, who has served as children’s services director at Grand Forks Public Library for nearly 15 years, has had a “huge impact on the level of service” the library provides to the community, Wendt said in an announcement about his award. His work has resulted in “increasing the frequency and quality of programming for children dramatically.”
“He has brought STEM and STEAM programming and robotics to the library and led his department through an extensive remodel,” she said. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics; the “A” is sometimes added for “art.”
“(He) has also had statewide and national impact (and) serving on the NDLA Board of Directors as treasurer for eight years,” she added.
Stefanich, who joined the library staff in June 2009, said the highlights of his career involve the people he’s worked with, including staff members and patrons.
“I’ve been here long enough to have seen children who used to attend storytime grow up to be adults,” he said. “The highlight of my career was to have my own children attend storytime.
“Libraries have always been a magical place for me. I love books, and I enjoy working with people.”
A native of Long Prairie, Minnesota, Stefanich attended Mayville State University and graduated from Bemidji State University. He served two years with Americorps VISTA (Volunteers in Services to America) before attending graduate school at San Jose State University. In 2000, he earned a Master of Library and Information Science degree from SJSU.
Stefanich accepted the 2023 Librarian of the Year Award from Tammy Kruger, NDLA president-elect, at the 2023 NDLA Conference last month in Fargo. Kruger works at the North Dakota State Library in Bismarck.
