Two Public Librarians Honored for Their Work
The Children’s Book Council joins Brooklyn Public Library to salute exemplary library workers with two new posters.
The CBC & Every Child A Reader have created two new free Get Caught Reading posters featuring two Brooklyn Public Library staff award winners. Each year all library staff members are invited to nominate their colleagues for these two awards. Senior public service managers review and discuss all the nominations and select the winners, who, for 2024, are:
Christina Ferrari, a children’s librarian, the Assistant Branch Manager at the Bedford Library in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and recipient of the 2024 Dr. Lucille C. Thomas Award for Excellence in Librarianship.
Felicia Holston-Sloane, the Brooklyn Public Library Central Clerical Operations Manager, and the recipient of the 2024 Feder Leonard Family Award for Excellence in Service to the Library’s Public.
As to the genesis of this partnership, CBC’s Carl Lennnertz reported that, “I was talking with the timeless George Ford, the first illustrator to win a Coretta Scott King Award in 1974 for his illustrations in Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis, late last year. He told me about meeting Lucille Thomas at a library event in Brooklyn way back when, and he raved about working with her. George recently turned 98 and he remembers everything! He’s a walking history book. So, I thought let’s start an award in Lucille Thomas’ name. Well, the BPL already has one, so I worked out with BPL’s Judy Zuckerman that we’d do Get Caught Reading posters with the winners of 2 of the 2024 honored librarians and donate books as giveaways at the two work locations of the winners.”
About the Awards
The Lucille C. Thomas award for excellence in librarianship honors the legacy of Dr. Thomas, who devoted her life to libraries. She served on the Brooklyn Public Library Board of Trustees for nearly 30 years, and she was the first African American president of both the New York Library Association and the New York City School Librarians Association. “Her memory lives on as an inspiration to us all,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. The award celebrates a librarian who provides exemplary service to the public and upholds the highest standards of the profession. Christina is the eighth recipient of this award.
The Feder Leonard Family Award for excellence in service to the library’s public recognizes a member of the non-librarian staff who has done outstanding work advancing the services the library provides to the people of Brooklyn. The Feder Leonard family created an endowment five years ago to ensure this award would be a lasting BPL tradition.
About the Librarians
Christina Ferrari is a children’s librarian, the Assistant Branch Manager at the Bedford Library in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and recipient of the 2024 Dr. Lucille C. Thomas Award for Excellence in Librarianship. While her branch is closed for renovation, Christina can be spotted bopping around the neighborhood with her guitar, drum, telescope, and The Notorious L.I.T (Library in Transit) outreach book wagon, connecting her with the community in new and unexpected ways. When she’s not doing outreach Christina can be found at the Greenpoint Library, where she has garnered a second set of fans.
Felicia Holston-Sloane is the Brooklyn Public Library Central Clerical Operations Manager, and the recipient of the 2024 Feder Leonard Family Award for Excellence in Service to the Library’s Public. She became a library shelver as soon as she was old enough and learned to enjoy reading despite her dyslexia. Felicia’s bubbly personality and unique laugh make her an admired role model for her staff. Her joy in helping the public is infectious. Felicia inspires her staff to make every member of the public feel welcome at the Central Library. This award recognizes the crucial role that support staff plays in the smooth functioning of the library.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st-century libraries, it provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. The library provides nearly 60,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And it givew patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.
Congratulations to both Christina and Felicia!
