The New England Library Association (NELA) is proud to announce the recipient of the 2025 Emerson Greenway Award - Maine’s State Librarian, Lori Stockman. This is the highest award presented by NELA to a librarian who demonstrates distinguished service, innovation, leadership, and collaboration throughout the New England region. This year’s recipient has shown a high level of commitment, professionalism and dignity to the library profession in light of unprecedented challenges.
Lori’s work has positively impacted those around her. She has worked to strengthen communication across the region and build stronger systems, which many other state libraries have adopted. More than this, she advocates for intellectual freedom as well as legislation that impacts libraries throughout the region. Appointed Maine State Librarian in December 2022, Stockman has led efforts to strengthen statewide library networks, promote equitable access to information, and support innovation in rural and underserved communities. Before coming to Maine, she served as Assistant State Librarian at the New Hampshire State Library and spent 11 years as Director of the Baker Free Library in Bow, New Hampshire. Throughout her career, Lori has been active in professional leadership through the American Library Association, serving on the Committee on Legislation, the Intellectual Freedom & Advocacy Committee, and the ALA Policy Corps. Her work has focused on strengthening libraries as essential public institutions and ensuring that every resident, regardless of location, has access to high-quality information and resources.