Syosset High School named National School Library of the Year

CHICAGO – Syosset High School, located in Syosset, New York, is the recipient of the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) 2024 National School Library of the Year (NSLY) Award. Sponsored by Follett Content Solutions, the NSLY Award annually honors a school library that exemplifies the implementation of AASL's National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. Syosset High School will receive a crystal obelisk – the symbol of school library excellence – and $10,000 toward its school library.

“The school library at Syosset High School is a beehive of activity,” said award committee co-chair Mary Woodard. “They try to blur the boundaries between the library and classroom, encouraging classroom teachers to take risks and developing relationships that drive people to use the library. It has evolved into a warm, supportive, flexible, and innovative space where the librarians are always on the lookout for how they can add to and elevate the educational program across curriculum areas. The Syosset High School library offers a level of instructional expertise that is sought out by every educator.”

Co-chair Samual Northern notes, “The librarians are not just custodians of books but builders of capacity in teachers. They tirelessly seek ways to enrich the curriculum, from curating resources for classroom instruction to organizing guest authors or speakers to extend a lesson. Their efforts truly evoke and sustain cross-curricular connections and collaborations among content teachers, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose.”

Dr. Thomas L. Rogers, Syosset Central School District Superintendent of Schools, wrote in his endorsement letter, “Syosset’s mission is ‘to prepare students to thrive in both the future we imagine and one which may evolve in ways yet to be envisioned.’ Syosset’s high school library animates this mission in extraordinary ways that students and faculty alike find tangible and meaningful.”

“The Syosset Library Learning Commons future-focused, innovative, and supportive approach, coupled with its dedication to inquiry, imagination, and lifelong learning, makes it a shining example of what a modern library should aspire to be and sets a standard for libraries nationwide,” wrote David Steinberg, Assistant Principal for Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology.

Aliyyah Hamid, a 12th-grade student at Syosset, said “The library’s energetic hum and the dedicated nature of its staff are refreshing against the competition of academic performance outside its walls. The Syosset High School Library Learning Commons is an ecology of care and opportunity, and I strongly endorse it for the National School Library of the Year Award.”

“The National School Library of Year award shines a spotlight on the significant difference a school library can make for every person in a school community,” said AASL President Courtney Pentland. “You can tell by the comments from the committee that Syosset High School's library is a wonderful example of what can occur in a truly supported school library with a certified school librarian at the helm - exemplary work with students across backgrounds, interests, and skill sets finding their personalized needs met in a welcoming space; classroom teachers seeking out expertise and assistance; and PLCs facilitated by school librarians to name just a few. You can tell how trusted and respected the library and its staff are from comments like this one submitted by one of Syosset’s classroom educators - ‘The Syosset High School Library Learning Commons is truly the beating heart at the center of our school.’ Congratulations to Syosset High School on this recognition of your hard work!”

The AASL award winners will be recognized at the 2025 AASL National Conference, which will be held October 16-19 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The American Association of School Librarians (www.aasl.org), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

About Follett Content Solutions
Follett Content Solutions is the largest provider of educational materials to PreK-12 libraries, classrooms, learning centers and school districts in the United States, and a major supplier to educational institutions worldwide. Follett Content distributes library books, textbooks, supplemental books, hands-on learning resources and Makerspace, audiovisual materials and digital resources through Titlewave, the most powerful online collection development and curriculum support tool for school libraries, librarians, and educators. Find Follett Content on Facebook and Instagram and follow them on X (formerly Twitter) (@FollettContent).