I’ve seen several articles on this yesterday and today, and I cannot begin to tell you how amazing it is for me to see Scott Bonner, director of the Ferguson Public Library, recognized with the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity (link)

Photo by J.B. Forbes

In case you don’t know who Scott Bonner is, he is the director of the Ferguson Public Library in Ferguson, Missouri. He is the only full time librarian on staff, and had only been on the job for about a month when Michael Brown was shot and killed. When the schools and businesses of Ferguson closed down because of a fear of rioting after the verdict there. Bonner kept the library open and provided resources, education, and a safe place for children and other members of the community.  Donations supporting his work have meant that he has been able to hire a children’s librarian.

He is a librarian who is just doing his job, and he is a hero. Congratulations, Mr. Bonner.