Rising Star

The MLA Rising Star Award, previously named the Up & Comer Award, was established in 2012 to recognize a librarian who shows leadership early in his or her career. While new to the profession, he/she expands the role of librarian through being forward-thinking and moving libraries into the future. Winners of this award will be energetic efficient librarians who push the boundaries of originality and creativity. They will help to establish a library culture that sets high expectations, promotes learning, and creates an understanding of the library as an integral part of the community. The Rising Star Award winner will also have been a librarian for 5 or fewer years.

Danielle DiAmico Honored as MLA’s 2019 Rising Star

The Michigan Library Association (MLA) is pleased to announce Danielle DiAmico has been named the 2019 Rising Star. DiAmico received the award during the MLA 2019 Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on October 17 in Novi.

DiAmico is truly a rising star in libraries. Well respected by fellow staff and patrons alike, she is passionate about giving back to the community-building programs, collections, and new activities to meet the needs of patrons. After serving as a department head at the Bay County Library System for little more than a year, her accomplishments inspire other staff, and her desire to make libraries increasingly relevant in the community is remarkable.

DiAmico has been instrumental in building and implementing new programs, collections and activities to meet diverse needs in the community. From her annual “Kids Helping Kids” program where children make or create something that helps others; to creating and fundraising for STEM kits; to school outreach, including teambuilding “breakout boxes” for teens; playing her ukulele for local students; and making sure elementary students without a school library received library cards. DiAmico’s warmth, kindness, passion for the library profession and service to her patrons and community make her truly deserving to be named the MLA 2019 Rising Star.

Past Rising Star (Up and Comer) Award Winners

2012 | 2014 | 2018