Janet Hyunju Clarke, associate dean of research and learning at Stony Brook University Libraries, has been awarded the ALA Medal of Excellence Award.
This annual award, presented by the American Library Association (ALA) and sponsored by global library organization OCLC, recognizes creative leadership of high order, particularly in the fields of library management, library training, cataloging and classification and the tools and techniques of librarianship.
The 2025 Medal of Excellence jury honored Clarke for her work as the principal investigator of Ready for Success, a grant-funded project to more effectively integrate research skills into the high school curricula by helping teachers scaffold smaller lessons throughout the year.
The Ready for Success initiative has transformed research instruction at Brentwood High School on Long Island. Students learned to break down the scary “research project” into smaller attainable skill sets, which gave them the confidence and skills to think critically, conduct meaningful research and better navigate the evolving information landscape.
“I am deeply pleased and proud that the ALA has recognized Janet’s work and contributions,” said Karim Boughida, dean of University Libraries. “The Ready for Success project has made significant strides in integrating essential research skills into high school education. This initiative extends beyond academic success; it prepares students with the critical thinking skills necessary for college and life. Our partnership with Brentwood High School, where 82 percent of students are economically disadvantaged, supported by the Pritchard Charitable Trust, demonstrates the profound impact that educators and librarians can have on student readiness.”
Through their train-the-trainer approach, Clarke and her team developed a comprehensive curriculum to update teacher education about information literacy principles and to equip them with the essential tools to strengthen student research and information literacy skills. Class visits to Stony Brook provided hands-on academic experience, reinforcing real-world applications of research skills. The initiative has not only created a new community of practice at Brentwood but has also strengthened partnerships between high school and college educators, easing students’ transition to higher education.
Clarke and her team have shared their expertise at state and national conferences, guiding educators in implementing effective research instruction. Their efforts culminated in the Ready for Success Summit, which gathered more than 100 teachers, librarians and school administrators to exchange best practices in research and information literacy. To date, this project has impacted more than 1,200 educators and high school students on Long Island, New York, with plans to expand to more schools.
Sara Dallas, chair of the 2025 Medal of Excellence Award committee, praising the initiative, said, “The award committee was impressed by this innovative and vital project that partnered the public high school and the Stony Brook University libraries.”
Under Clarke’s leadership, the project effaced boundaries that too often exist among teachers, librarians, and administrators and between K-12 and higher education environments. It also encouraged a reimagining of what teaching “research skills” can look like across multiple levels and disciplines within a high school building. It strengthened relationships between the university library and school libraries throughout the region.
The 2025 Medal of Excellence will be presented at the ALA President’s Program on June 29 at the 2025 ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
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