Scott Bonner – the librarian who kept his library open in Ferguson, following the 2014 riots sparked by the shooting of Michael Brown – has won a prize honouring “noble librarians faced with adversity”.

Established by the author Daniel Handler – who writes the bestselling Lemony Snicket children’s books – and the American Library Association, the $10,000 (£6,500) award is intended to recognise a librarian “who has faced adversity with integrity and dignity intact”.

After the unarmed black teenager Brown was shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri last August, the St Louis suburb was hit by a wave of shock, escalating protests and civil unrest. But while local businesses closed their doors as riots, violence and arson raged, and schools delayed opening, Ferguson public library remained open, “thanks to Bonner and the absolutely vital and tireless work of every member of his staff”, said the ALA.

Just a few blocks from the clashes between protesters and police, Bonner, the only full-time librarian on staff, who had started the job just weeks earlier, set out a sign at the library doors saying “Stay Strong Ferguson. We are family”. He then worked with volunteers, church groups and local teachers to put on educational programming for up to 200 children a day, said the ALA, while racial tensions were “at a boiling point”.

Donations from nearly 13,000 supporters across the US poured in, topping $175,000, and Bonner used the money – almost half the library’s annual budget – to compile a book collection focused on civic engagement, diversity, the history of civil rights and trauma recovery.

“Bonner’s ability to respond to the needs of his community with earnestness and immediacy demonstrates his leadership, personal courage, selflessness and dedication to public service,” said the ALA. “When the library began receiving too many patrons and running too many programmes to house, Bonner secured space at the church next door and kept on going. While buildings were being burnt down, he was building the community of Ferguson.”

Los Angeles Public Library’s Dora Ho, chair of the jury that selected Bonner as the award’s winner, added that “under his leadership, a traumatic moment in our nation’s history was met with an outpouring of support”, with Bonner serving as a “quiet hero” through it all, “directing all media and social media attention toward highlighting the role of libraries and librarians as community hubs of support”.

“We feel that he has been the ultimate example of humility, integrity, and dignity in the face of adversity,” she said.

Responding to congratulations on Twitter, where he was described as a superhero, Bonner wrote: “Ha! Thanks. But, if I’m a superhero, then so is any local librarian, so go to the library and let them teach you to fly. :)”

He will be presented with the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity on 28 June by Handler and the award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson at the ALA annual conference in San Francisco.