Nominate your local library for the NYC Neighborhood ‘Oscars’

Nominations are now open for the NYC Neighborhood Awards.

The awards, appropriately dubbed the “Oscars of libraries,” recognize neighborhood branches that go above and beyond to serve their communities while also giving them a shot at a hefty $20,000 grand prize.

Once 10 finalists are selected, a group of judges will square in on five winning branches, one of which will take home the grand prize. The rest will walk away with $10,000. In addition, the Heckscher Foundation for Children will once again award the Heckscher Prize for Outstanding Service to Children and Youth to one additional outstanding branch that has proven its commitment to this city’s youth. The winner of this award will also walk away with $20,000 to spend on the branch.

Last year’s winners included the Sunset Park Library, which has already put its earnings to good use with plans to create a staff development and team building workshop as well as purchase art and music equipment for its children’s programming.

The awards, now in their fourth year, are an initiative of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Charles H. Revson Foundation.

New Yorkers can nominate their local library for exceptional service to the community, either online at www.nyclibraryawards.org, or on paper at local branches. Nominations will be accepted through March 13.