Rutgers SC&I is proud to announce that alumna Lisa Varga MLS’98 is Library Journal’s Librarian of the Year for 2024. Varga, who learned of this honor in December 2023, is the Executive Director at the Virginia Library Association (VLA), a nonprofit organization that supports the profession of librarianship in the Commonwealth of Virginia. “This is the highlight of my career as far as awards go,” she noted, saying that the fact that her colleagues nominated her made her selection all the sweeter.
In announcing Varga as this year’s recipient, Library Journal noted, “There are many library advocates doing necessary and critical work right now; Varga’s unflagging generosity of spirit sets her apart. Because of her dedication to intellectual freedom, her conviction that the cause is always worth fighting for, and her support of fellow library defenders, Varga is LJ’s 2024 Librarian of the Year…Not only does she keep VLA running smoothly, but Varga’s active opposition to book challenges—testifying against censorship legislation, showing up to school board meetings, and empowering library advocates across the state to stand up to First Amendment threats through equal parts hard data and deep compassion—has made an enormous difference for libraries in Virginia and beyond.”
News submitted by Brenda Sheridan, Rutgers, School of Communication and Information
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