# John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award The Most Prestigious Award of the American Library Association ![john cotton dana award web image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/john-cotton-dana-award-web-image-1080.jpg) ## Honoring outstanding library public relations The 2026 John Cotton Dana (JCD) Award recipients have been selected, honoring libraries for their exceptional achievements in strategic communications. Read the [press release](/news-center/press-releases/2026-john-cotton-dana-awards-celebrate-80-years-recognizing-excellence "/news-center/press-releases/2025-john-cotton-dana-awards-spotlight-innovation-library-marketing") to learn about this year’s winners. Winners will be recognized during the Core & John Cotton Dana Awards Ceremony at the 2026 ALA Annual Conference, and all are welcome to attend. Saturday, June 27, 2026 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Chicago, IL The John Cotton Dana Award, provided in conjunction with the H.W. Wilson Foundation, Core a division of the American Library Association and EBSCO, honors outstanding library public relations, whether a summer reading program, a year-long centennial celebration, fundraising for a new college library, an awareness campaign or an innovative partnership in the community. In recognition of their achievement, John Cotton Dana award winners receive a cash award from the H.W. Wilson Foundation. The John Cotton Dana Awards are presented at an elegant reception hosted by EBSCO held during the American Library Association annual conference. ![john cotton dana award web image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/john-cotton-dana-award-web-image-1080.jpg) ![john cotton dana winners web image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/john-cotton-dana-2018-winners-web-image-1080.jpg) ## See the award winners - [2026](/node/163200) - [2025](/news-center/press-releases/2025-john-cotton-dana-awards-spotlight-innovation-library-marketing) - [2024](/news-center/press-releases/2024-john-cotton-dana-awards-announced) - [2023](/news-center/press-releases/2023-john-cotton-dana-awards-announced) - [2022](https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2022/06/2022-john-cotton-dana-awards-announced) - [2021](https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/07/2021-john-cotton-dana-awards-selected) - [2020](http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/07/john-cotton-dana-library-public-relations-awards-announced) - [2019](http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2019/05/john-cotton-dana-library-public-relations-awards-announced) - [2018](http://www.ala.org/llama/2018-winners-john-cotton-dana-library-public-relations-award) - [2017](http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/05/announcing-2017-john-cotton-dana-library-public-relations-award-winners) - [2016](http://www.ala.org/llama/awards/johncottondana) - [2015](http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/04/announcing-2014-winners-john-cotton-dana-library-public-relations-awards) ## Provided in Conjunction With: ![ebsco logo ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/ebsco-logo-200.jpg) ![hw wilson foundation logo ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/hw-wilson-foundation-logo-200.jpg) ![american library association logo ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/american-library-association-logo-200.jpg) ## Recommended Reading [ ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/1e09e5b6-89f4-4811-a34d-8998775b90b2/john-cotton-dana-award-2025-blog-image-780.jpg) ](/blogs/ebscopost/john-cotton-dana-award-winners-2024) ### Blog [Celebrate Excellence in Library Public Relations: Apply for the John Cotton Dana Award for a Chance to Win $10,000 for Your Library](/blogs/ebscopost/john-cotton-dana-award-winners-2024) [ ![john cotton dana winner anchorage pl blog image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/john-cotton-dana-winner-anchorage-pl-blog-image-780.png) ](/blogs/ebscopost/tips-run-successful-john-cotton-dana-award-campaign-anchorage-public-library) ### Blog [Tips to Run a Successful John Cotton Dana Award Campaign from Anchorage Public Library](/blogs/ebscopost/tips-run-successful-john-cotton-dana-award-campaign-anchorage-public-library) [ ![john cotton dana award blog image ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/john-cotton-dana-award-2023-blog-image-780.jpg) ](/blogs/ebscopost/mastering-library-pr-excellence-award-winning-john-cotton-dana-jcd-submissions) ### Blog [Mastering Library PR Excellence: Award-Winning John Cotton Dana (JCD) Submissions](/blogs/ebscopost/mastering-library-pr-excellence-award-winning-john-cotton-dana-jcd-submissions)