Tim Jones, the head librarian at John F. Kennedy Elementary (Jefferson County), has been named the 2025 School Librarian of the Year by the School Library Journal. Photo courtesy Antonio Pantoja/School Library Journal
(LOUISVILLE, KY) – Tim Jones, a library media specialist at John F. Kennedy Elementary School (Jefferson County), has been named the 2025 School Librarian of the Year by the School Library Journal.
With a background in comedy writing and training at Chicago’s famed Second City, Jones’ path took an unexpected turn when he found himself working as a library clerk. It was then that he discovered his passion for connecting with students and fostering a love of learning.
After moving back to Kentucky, he received his master’s in library media education and worked at schools like St. Mary Academy and Trinity High School in Louisville. Jones now serves as the head librarian at John F. Kennedy Elementary.
As a librarian, Jones is driven by a passion for expanding young minds. He especially cherishes those moments when he sees a student truly grasp a concept – what he described as a light bulb turning on. Jones credits his mother, father, cousin Levi and several teachers who made a significant impact on him. His mom’s open-hearted nature and Levi’s non-judgmental acceptance inspired him to create a safe space for students. He learned the importance of combining expertise with personal connections and for that he honors them through his everyday life.
“My father started off as a farmer and then he started his own business, and the business is still going. I’m now a co-owner and I make library advocacy shirts,” Jones said.
Jones said that he was both surprised and honored to receive the SLJ School Librarian of the Year award. The most fulfilling part of his work, he said, is the process of building relationships with students and creating a space for fun and learning. He connects with students individually, offering fist bumps, hugs and personalized greetings.
“I try to just make connections with them and get smiles on their faces,” Jones said. “I make sure that they know they are seen, and they are loved.”
Jones acknowledged that students at John F. Kennedy Elementary have experienced a lot of change at the school. Building trust with him has been a priority. He made a commitment to increasing equity and providing opportunities for students regardless of their background, such as building a collection of multilingual books. After finding vendors that supply these titles, Jones added them to the library, giving students more options and better representation.
Jones said he has never been one to settle for mediocrity. He is motivated by a desire to continually improve the library and make it a welcoming and resource-rich place for students. He uses creative solutions to compensate for a lack of resources, such as book fairs and utilizing fundraising platforms like Donors Choose to fund library initiatives. A part of the 2025 School Librarian of the Year award includes a $3,500 Scholastic subscription to a digital program.
Jones created a Google form to gauge student interest in various activities, including robotics and the Kentucky Department of Education’s Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP). This led to forming a core group of about 10 students who regularly take part in STLP activities and help in the library.
STLP uses project-based learning principles to empower student learning and achievement. STLP provides a means for students to design, make, connect and learn through technology use and creation of original digital content. Jones implemented STLP at John F. Kennedy Elementary by engaging students in technology projects such as animated book trailers and digital comics. This program has drawn in students who are interested in technology and provided them with opportunities to explore their passions. One initiative, “Comics with a Cause,” encouraged students to create comics based on diverse topics.
“This year, there (are) two projects that that we’re doing. One was to do an animated book trailer of book reviews, another one was to do digital comics, which are both things that I’m really interested in because l like promoting graphic novels,” Jones said.
Jones noted how libraries have evolved from exclusively print resources to a combination of print and digital over the years, including eBooks and more accessible databases. He explained the transition requires not only new tools, but also a new emphasis on digital citizenship and the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). Jones raised questions about what it means to be human in the age of AI, stressing the importance of human creativity and the potential loss of personal expression when outsourcing creative tasks to AI.
“Maybe AI can do it better than you, but you are robbing your soul of being able to make something,” he said.
Jones emphasizes the importance of expanding youthful minds, focusing on creativity and creating a comfortable space for others.
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