Kate Lasky, Director of the Josephine Community Library, has been awarded the prestigious Librarian of the Year award by the Oregon Library Association (OLA) at their annual conference in Eugene.
The award recognizes Lasky’s outstanding dedication to libraries and her unwavering commitment to serving her community.
The award was presented by Curry Public Library Director Jeremy Skinner, a close colleague of Lasky who spearheaded her nomination. Skinner praised Lasky’s support and inspiration to fellow librarians across the state, stating, “For many librarians in Oregon, Kate Lasky is a caring friend, a cheerleader, and an inspiration. She is a role model, demonstrating the impact that one individual can have when they are deeply committed to both personal and professional development in the service of others.”
Josephine Community Library Foundation Executive Director Rebecca Stoltz and Grants Pass Friends of the Library Co-chair Jennifer Roberts were also present to honor Lasky, highlighting her unwavering dedication to equitable access to knowledge and community support. “Whether she’s standing up to county commissioners, defending the freedom to read, or helping a teen advisory board brainstorm their next big idea,” said Stoltz, “Kate’s north star is always the same: equitable access to knowledge, opportunity, and community.”
SEE LASKY ON A-9
In her acceptance speech, Lasky emphasized the collective effort behind the library’s success. “This award is about more than me,” she stated. “It’s about the people who never give up on their library, even when things get hard. We’ve been through a lot this year, but we kept showing up for each other. That’s what libraries do. They bring people together; they hold communities together. I’m proud to be part of that story.” The OLA awards banquet also recognized other outstanding individuals and organizations, including the Library Supporter of the Year and recipients of the Anti-Racism Recognition Award and Library Employee of the Year. Notably, Eva Pieper of Grants Pass School District 7 also received the Intellectual Freedom Champion award, highlighting Josephine County’s strong dedication to library advocacy. The Oregon Library Association is committed to strengthening libraries throughout the state through advocacy, education, and collaboration.