Nancy P. O'Brien, one of the organizers of the Youth Literature Festival (YLF) and Head of the Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL) has been awarded the 2026 Outstanding Public Engagement Award from the University of Illinois Library.
O'Brien was recognized for her work as a founding committee member of YLF.
Nominators praise her contributions to the festival and her commitment to bringing a love of literature to students. Victor Perez, Director of the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities, noted that the festival has engaged more than 12,000 students in a single cycle, citing Nancy’s “thoughtful guidance, commitment, and collaborative spirit” as key factors in the success of every festival since its inception."
Collaborators also point to Nancy’s exceptional dedication in making a program of this scale possible. Linda Tammen, former Youth Literature Festival Program Coordinator, emphasized Nancy’s wide-ranging contributions—including fundraising, donor outreach, promotional work, and leading author events and festival programming—and described her reliability as “an absolutely priceless attribute” when coordinating an event that serves thousands of students across schools and community partners.
Nancy and SSHEL will receive a $1,000 prize from the Revd. Professor Dom Bennett Hill OSB Memorial Library Fund to support outreach, social, and other promotional activities that enhance and further the Library's excellence.
