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Randi Monley of the Minot Public Library has been named 2026 Librarian of the Year by the North Dakota Library Association.
Monley has served the City of Minot for 13 years as Minot Public Library Children's librarian. She has implemented popular children's programming including READ Dogs, Smart Start and Kindness Knights.
"Randi's motto has been to 'see kids for who they are where they are' and our community has seen the fruits of those efforts," Minot Public Library Director Josh Pikka said. "She also envisioned the recent remodel for the Children's Library, as well as recently helping to draw about 700 patrons in the library for the recent Fall Into Reading event."
Monley is also known in the library community for initiating change at the state level.
"Randi strives to make her community a better place, and this is evident in everything she does," NDLA 2025 Librarian of the Year and 2026 award presenter Andrea Placher said. "Including her help to build from the ground up the critical advocacy group: Right to Read ND. Her research, information dissemination and testimony at the state legislature has proven to be invaluable."
NDLA has presented a Librarian of the Year Award since 1992. Nominating criteria includes someone who has made a notable contribution to the North Dakota library profession, furthered significant developments of libraries in North Dakota and performed exemplary statewide service