Clarivate has announced the finalists of the inaugural Clarivate Library Innovation Awards, a global program designed to recognize innovation by academic, national, and public libraries.
The finalists were selected by an independent judging panel comprising leaders from international library organizations. More than 50 submissions from 11 countries and regions were evaluated, highlighting a wide range of initiatives demonstrating creativity, innovation, and measurable impact on library users, students, and communities.
The submissions reflected diverse approaches to library innovation, ranging from grassroots literacy and outreach programs to enterprise-level automation, analytics, and artificial intelligence initiatives. The entries illustrate how libraries are evolving as modern service and knowledge hubs through the adoption of advanced technologies and new service models.
Finalists were selected across three Clarivate international user group categories representing academic and public libraries.
In the ELUNA Member Category for Academic Libraries in North America, the finalists include Stony Brook University Libraries in the United States for developing a generative AI-powered tool integrated with the library discovery interface to enhance research discoverability; the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for an initiative that scales and automates identification, acquisition, and delivery of low- or no-cost course materials; and the University of Texas at Austin Libraries for an AI-assisted cataloging initiative addressing legacy music collections.
In the IGeLU Member Category for Academic Libraries International, the finalists include the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Library for an AI-driven transformation program spanning resource discovery, research support, operational efficiency, and staff capability development; the University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom for applying large language model (LLM) technologies to convert a backlog of donations into discoverable resources; and the University of Western Australia Library for expanding digital asset management services to collections managed by separate university-aligned groups and organizations.
The IUG Member Category for Public Libraries includes Rochester Hills Public Library in the United States for developing a discovery interface tailored to children and teenagers that integrates early childhood literacy expertise with technical design; Santa Clarita Public Library for launching a fully operational mobile library delivering services directly to neighborhoods, schools, and community events; and Suffolk Public Library for expanding access to a rural branch while minimizing additional workload for existing staff.
The judging panel included Beau Case of the University of Central Florida, Catherine Lau of the National Library and Archives Board of Singapore, Dave Allen of IGeLU, Eleanor Crumblehulme of IUG, Jason Griffith of ELUNA, Lynda James-Gilboe of AdaptLeadSucceed, Marshall Breeding of LibraryTechnology.org, and Sam Helmick of the American Library Association.
Finalists in each category will receive all-expenses-paid attendance for two library staff members at the respective Clarivate international user group conferences in 2026, where recognition will take place during conference proceedings. Category winners will be announced at those events.
Click here to read the original press release.
