Building on the success of the first two NYC Neighborhood Library Awards, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Charles H. Revson Foundation came together to give New Yorkers another chance to honor and celebrate their local libraries. The 3rd Annual NYC Neighborhood Library Awards launched on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show on November 18th, 2015 and New Yorkers were invited to share their stories via hand-written and online nomination forms through December 18th, 2015.

As in past years, the third Awards aimed to highlight and recognize the amazing local libraries of NYC’s three public library systems: the Brooklyn Public Library; Queens Library; and the New York Public Library, which operates branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Bolstered by increased public awareness of the Awards and amplified by branch engagement with their patrons, the third Awards received close to 19,000 nominations, in 7 languages, during the 4-week nomination period!

At a ceremony on June 6th, 2016, the Revson Foundation and Stavros Niarchos Foundation announced the five winners of the 3rd Annual NYC Neighborhood Library Awards. In a new addition this year, a sixth winner was awarded the Heckscher Prize for Outstanding Service to Children and Youth and $20,000 by the Heckscher Foundation for Children. In addition to the six $20,000 winners, an additional five libraries won finalists awards and $10,000 each. These outstanding eleven libraries emerged from thousands of stories written by New Yorkers from across the five boroughs. Every one of the over 200 branch libraries in New York City received many heartfelt nominations illustrating the intrinsic role they play in their communities. Above all, the NYC Neighborhood Library Awards recognizes and commends the amazing library staff who work tirelessly and with few resources to bring incredible opportunities for knowledge, togetherness, and exploration to their communities!

Julie Sandorf, President of the Charles H. Revson Foundation and Brian Lehrer, host of WNYC's The Brian Lehrer Show

Haeda Mihaltses, Queens Library Trustee; Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer; Queens Library President Dennis Walcott; Eve Cho Guillergan, Queens Library Trustee; Council Member Donovan Richards; and Council Member Barry Grodenchik

Sarah Needham, Program Officer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation

Julie Sandorf, President of the Charles H. Revson Foundation

Julie Sandorf presents Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Andy King with Certificates of Appreciation for their work as tireless advocates for New York City's Public Libraries

Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Julie Sandorf, and Council Member Andy King

Council Member Carlos Menchaca and Roxana Benavides, Manager of the Sunset Park Library

Council Member Vanessa Gibson and Colbert Nembhard, Manager of the Morrisania Library

Caroline Schill, Manager of the Aguilar Library and Gerald Rosenfeld, Trustee of the Charles H. Revson Foundation

Council Member Donovan Richards and Nicole Gordon, Manager of the Arverne Library

Council Member Chaim Deutsch and Liana Alaverdova, Manager of the Kings Bay Library

Council Member Donovan Richards and Cathy Cox & Michael Stamberg, staff members at the Far Rockaway Library

Eileen Kassab, Manager of the Dyker Library and Cheryl Cohen Effron, Trustee of the Charles H. Revson Foundation

Sharon Greenberger, Trustee of the Charles H. Revson Foundation and Danita Nichols, Manager of the Inwood Library

Suzanne Gluck, Trustee of the Charles H. Revson Foundation and Kassandre Innocent, Manager of the Fort Washington Library

Youn-Shin Kim, Manager of the Glen Oaks Library and Council Member Barry Grodenchik

Council Member Fernando Cabrera presents the Heckscher Prize for Outstanding Service to Children and Youth to Nicola McDonald, Manager of the Jerome Park Library

Nicole Gordon, Manager of the Arverne Library and Richard Reyes Gavilan, Executive Director of the D.C. Public Library & Library Awards Judge

Staff Members of the Morrisania Library and Tony Marx, President and CEO of the New York Public Library

Staff Members of the Inwood Library and Tony Marx, President and CEO of the New York Public Library

Linda Johnson, President & CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library and Roxana Benavides, Manager of the Sunset Park Library

Staff Members and Patrons of the Dyker Library

Judges of the 2016 Library Awards: Peter Hatch, Jelani Cobb, Stacy Schiff, Angela Flournoy, and Richard Reyes-Gavilan

Staff of the Sunset Park Library and Council Member Andy King

Staff and Patrons of the Kings Bay Library and Council Member Andy King

Staff of the Morrisania Library and Council Member Andy King

Staff of the Fort Washington Library

Staff of the Aguilar Library

All photos courtesy of Gerri Hernandez

NYC Library Awards