Each year UELMA recognizes 3 nominated Utah school employees for contributions to their respective school libraries. Nominations are open a few months before the annual March conference and announced at the general meeting.
Award Categories
| Teacher Librarian of the year | Paraprofessional of the year | Administrator of the year | |
| 2022 | Shelly Hamilton | Sarah Stevenson | Nick Harris |
| 2021 | Bill Goodrich | Britteny Candelaria | Heather Hardy |
| 2020 | Amy Jamison | Jessica Smith | James Wilson |
| 2019 | Erin Heywood | Crystal Hopkins | Carolyn Gough |
| 2018 | Michelle Asay | Kari Gibson | Tiffany Hall |
| 2017 | Lori Gilman | Joann Topham | Aaron Hogge |
| 2016 |
- Teacher Librarian of the Year (Certified) Applicants must meet state requirements for school library media certification and be currently employed in a media specialist, teacher librarian or equivalent position. They can be working in either a public or private school at a site level.
- Library Paraprofessional of the Year (Non-Certified, Classified) Honors para professionals working in school libraries as assistants, media clerks or similar titles. Nominees are not certified with the state endorsement of Library Media.
- Administrator of the Year (Principal or District Level Supervisor) This award honors administrators with direct responsibility for a school or group of schools who have made influential, unique and sustained contributions to effective school library programs.
Judging and Criteria
A panel comprised of UELMA board members and the conference board members will judge nominees based on the criteria:
- Exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and school community
- Creativity in programming and use of content
- Collaboration with teacher peers, staff, and administrators
- Effective integration of library services with curricula
- Demonstrated student engagement
- Exemplary use of technology tools
- Outreach to parents, families
- Effective promotion of the library and what it offers