[Photo: Top: The exterior of Ferguson Municipal Public Library; center: Director Scott Bonner, the library's table at the farmers' market; bottom: adult and teen patrons using the library Photos by Sid Hastings]

During the unrest in Ferguson, MO following the police shooting of Michael Brown, one local organization emerged as a heroic force: The Ferguson Municipal Public Library.

Director Scott Bonner kept the library open even as other businesses around him shut down. After schools closed indefinitely, the Ferguson library became a place for teachers and students to continue with educational programs. Now the FMPL has been named Library of the Year by Library Journal magazine and Gale, a part of Cengage Learning.

The Library Journal has many more details on the work the Ferguson Library has done and why it was selected for the award. News of the library's dedication spread on social media last year and support began pouring in. The library made around $400,000 in donations and has been receiving accolades all year. This Library of the Year award will gift another $10,000 to the library.