Awards Programs

While we had to make the difficult decision to cancel Library Lions 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy, we were thrilled to bring the Library family together on Monday, December 10 to honor our five outstanding Library Lions.

This year’s Lions include Martin Amis, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Jennifer Egan, Annette Gordon-Reed, and President Nelson Mandela. Their works inspire us, and they shine a light on how much a single person can contribute to our collective history.

In the days following the storm, New Yorkers flocked to our branches, using our Internet, charging their phones, enjoying free programming, or just talking to their neighbors. It was a clear reminder of how the City’s residents rely on and appreciate their libraries. 

Given annually to an "unsung hero" of New York City.

An annual award to an outstanding NYPL Library Manager and his/her staff.

Honors each year's Valedictorians from New York City public high school graduates (1997-2003).

The New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award is a $10,000 prize awarded each spring to a writer age 35 or younger for a novel or a collection of short stories.

The Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism was established in 1987 through a gift from Joseph Frank Bernstein, in honor of journalist Helen Bernstein (now Helen Bernstein Fealy).  The award is given annually to a journalist whose work has brought public attention to important issues and includes a $15,000 cash prize. Previous Bernstein Award winners include Shane Harris, David Finkel, Jane Mayer, Lawrence Wright, Charlie Savage and Dana Priest.

This year’s finalists are:

Given jointly with Ezra Jack Keats Foundation to a promising new children's book author.

This award recognizes an NYPL staff member who during the past year has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to improving public reference service.