Julie Howe receives Outstanding Academic Librarian Award from Kentucky Library Association

Published on Oct 7, 2024

Julie Howe of Somerset Community College was recognized as the Association of College and Research Libraries Outstanding Academic Librarian by the Kentucky Library Association.

The award was presented at KLA’s luncheon on Friday, October 4 in Frankfort at the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives.

Howe is the Professor/Librarian I at the SCC Laurel Campus, where she has served since August 2011. She is also the library liaison to the health science division, where she works with students on topics such as evidence-based medicine and continuing education. In addition to working closely with the health science faculty and students, Howe teaches students critical thinking and information literacy skills, as well as curating and creating resources to enhance instruction. She has also served as a faculty senator to the Kentucky Community and Technical College system and past secretary of the faculty, as well as served as a long-time faculty council representative.

“I am humbled to receive this award," Howe said. “To be identified as the outstanding academic librarian in the state is high praise from my colleagues. I have been supported and inspired by many of the librarians in the state, and this recognition would not have been possible without their achievements and contributions to library scholarship.”

In addition to her roles at SCC, she is a past president of the Kentucky Library Association, current parliamentarian and has served in many roles in the Association’s various sections and roundtables.

Howe is the second librarian from SCC to receive this award. It was previously awarded to Shelley Burgett in 2009.

The Kentucky Library Association was founded in 1906 and has been affiliated with the American Library Association since 1917.