Sammy Award Recipients from Past Years

Learn about this year's Sammy Award recipients!

2019 Recipients

View photos and video of the 2019 Sammy Awards Gala
Rich Michelson

Rich Michelson

Award for Local Literary Achievement

Eric Carle Museum - Photo credit - Seth Kaye

The Eric Carle Museum
of Picture Book Art

Award for Significant Contribution to Amherst's Literary Culture

Bruce Watson - Photo credit - Greenfield Recorder

Bruce Watson

Special Centennial Award


2018 Recipients

View photos and video of the 2018 Sammy Awards Gala
Madeleine Blais - Photograph by Nancy Doherty

Madeleine Blais

Award for Local Literary Achievement

ARHS Theater Program

The Amherst Regional High School Theater Program

Award for Significant Contribution to Amherst's Literary Culture


2017 Recipients

View photos and video of the 2017 Sammy Awards Gala
Cammie McGovern - Photo by Ellen Auergarten
Arthur Kinney - Photograph by Don David

Cammie McGovern

Award for Local Literary Achievement

Arthur Kinney,

UMass Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies

Award for Significant Contribution to Amherst's Literary Culture


2016 Recipients

View photos and video of the 2016 Sammy Awards Gala
Polly Longsworth
Aaron Lanksy

Polly Longsworth

Award for Local Literary Achievement

Aaron Lansky, Yiddish Book Center

Award for Significant Contribution to Amherst's Literary Culture


2015 Recipients
View photos and video of the 2015 Sammy Awards Gala
Julius Lester
Julius Lester
Award for Local Literary Achievement

Pat and Peter Schneider

Pat and Peter Schneider, Amherst Writers & Artists

Award for Significant Contribution to Amherst's Literary Culture


2014 Recipients

View photos and video of the 2014 Sammy Awards Gala
Norton Juster
Norton Juster
Award for Local Literary Achievement

Amherst Books

Amherst Books

Award for Significant Contribution to Amherst's Literary Culture


About the Samuel Minot Jones Awards for Literary Achievement

The Sammys are named for Samuel Minot Jones, the Library's first benefactor and namesake, who contributed the initial funding for the endowment that continues to provide a portion of the Library budget annually. All proceeds from the awards ceremony will be used to support library collections, with materials for all ages and formats.

For information on sponsoring this event or to volunteer, please contact Sharon Sharry at sharrys@joneslibrary.org.