UL Teaching Librarian Makes the Top Ten
University Library's Teaching and Learning Librarian Mahasin Ameen has been named a 2026 Top Ten Librarian by the American Library Association.
The American Library Association (ALA) has announced this year's ten recipients of the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. The 2026 honorees are exceptional librarians from academic, public, and school libraries across the country, nominated by the communities they serve in recognition of their expertise, dedication, and meaningful impact.
Mahasin Ameen, Teaching and Learning Librarian at IU Indianapolis's University Library, is being recognized as a trusted guide in today's complex information landscape. Through expert instruction in research methods, database navigation, and source evaluation, she empowers students and faculty to develop strong information literacy skills. Beyond campus, Mahasin advocates for equitable information access, integrates social justice frameworks into curricula, and leads health literacy initiatives in partnership with Indianapolis Public Library. Her nomination was a true community effort: 10 professionals from IU and the Indiana library community, along with 9 students, submitted individual testimonials reflecting on their experiences working with her and the many ways she has helped the campus and wider Indianapolis community engage with research resources.
As one student wrote: "Working with Mahasin Ameen has felt like traveling with someone who not only knows the landscape, but also points out the markers I would have overlooked. Her expertise has given me a compass, allowing me to distinguish between trails that look promising but dead-end in questionable sources, versus those that lead to reliable, peer-reviewed scholarship."
In her role, Mahasin equips students and faculty to navigate academic databases, identify relevant information resources, and critically evaluate source quality — transforming information literacy into a core component of the university's learning community.
Andrea Copeland, Chair of the Luddy School's Library and Information Science program — where Mahasin also teaches — reflects: "Mahasin Ameen's work exemplifies the heart of librarianship: meeting people where they are and helping them achieve their goals. Whether supporting university students through complex research challenges or helping community members build digital literacy skills, she creates welcoming, empowering spaces that celebrate learning and inclusion."
University Library and IU Indianapolis are fortunate to count Mahasin as part of our campus community. If you see her in the building, be sure to give her a high five.
Congratulations, Mahasin!