The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) gives the Margaret E. Monroe Library Adult Services Award to outstanding librarians. It is a highly selective, coveted award in the library community and a major achievement. This year’s recipient was Friends Select alumna Melissa Hozik ’00.

Melissa primarily works with adults and focuses on building community within the East Brunswick Public Library in New Jersey. After the COVID-19 pandemic, she saw many adults struggling to make new friends and connect with others, which inspired her to focus on making the library a place where people feel welcome, comfortable, and included.   

Melissa prefers showcasing her programs rather than herself, but this year decided to nominate herself, not expecting to win. She said she was genuinely surprised to receive the award, given how selective it is. The award isn’t given every year; it’s awarded only when there is a candidate who truly meets the standards. Many past recipients were widely published and well established in the field, so Melissa did not anticipate being chosen. However, the quality and impact of her work make it clear why she earned this recognition. 

Melissa focuses on building connections at the library with over 1,000 participants, and she has been successful. One of her major passions is sustainability, which inspired her to help create more than 60 sustainability clubs. Her annual gardening event has become increasingly popular, attracting more people each year. She also helped create a popular Memory Cafe for people with dementia and their caregivers. At the cafe, participants have food and drinks, sometimes watch a movie, and most importantly, connect with each other. In addition, Melissa is involved in the Welcome Week, which helps welcome new immigrants to the area. She believes a combination of these achievements played an important role in her receiving the award.

Melissa credits her experience at Friends Select with teaching her the importance of community and having passionate educators who influenced her in her work. She said what helped was the school “letting us take an idea and run with it.” One of her most influential moments at Friends Select was her senior year internship, for which she worked as a chef at the Rittenhouse Hotel. Although she did not become a chef in her adult life, she said the experience taught her a lot about work and discipline. 

Melissa’s advice to high school students is to “try different things and think outside the box for your internships.” She highlighted having Philadelphia as a playground, making sure to connect with all of the resources in the city, including museums and libraries. She also emphasized the importance of passions, saying, “You’ll find a passion you didn’t know you had. Sometimes you don’t find it in high school, but it will take you farther in life and education.”