Southeast Missouri State University alumna Heather Hufstedler recently was honored with the Outstanding Library Program Award by the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) at its annual spring conference.Hufstedler, who holds a Master of Arts in English from Southeast, is a librarian in the West Plains R-7 District in West Plains, Missouri.The Outstanding Library Program Award honors an exemplary program demonstrating strength in the areas of foundations, building the learning environment, teaching and learning, building collaborative partnerships, advocacy and outreach, and leadership. It is modeled after the American Association of School Librarians National School Library Program of the Year Award.Hufstedler has been in education for 19 years, with 14 years as the librarian/techbrarian for West Plains Middle School. She said she feels fortunate that each day she gets to do what she is passionate about doing facilitating learning for approximately 600 middle school students with a flexible and supportive faculty. She said she loves working in the library at the middle school level, for each day presents itself with new challenges and experiences.In addition to her degree from Southeast, Hufstedler holds a Master of Science in Library Science and Information Services from the University of Central Missouri.I am excited that libraries are being recognized as hubs for collaboration, creativity, technology, and exploratory learning, Hufstedler said.Hufstedler lives in West Plains with her husband and three young sons. She previously received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Missouri Staff Development Council in 2015 and continues to build an innovative library program. She recently began a three-year appointment representing school libraries on the Secretary of States Library Development Council and is currently serving as sitting director for the Missouri Association of School Librarians and is president of the Southern Region Association of School Librarians.