Alaska Center for the Book honors Delta librarian and Akiachak literacy advocate with 2026 awards

The Alaska Center for the Book honored Tiki Levinson, director of the Delta Community Library, and Mary Samson George of Akiachak as its 2026 Contributions to Literacy in Alaska recipients, according to KUAC reporting highlighted in the Alaska State Libraries bulletin. The awards were presented at a July 12 reception at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.

Presented annually since 1993 by Alaska's affiliate of the U.S. Library of Congress Center for the Book, the awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made major contributions to literacy efforts in Alaska. The center has given more than 115 such awards.

Levinson has worked in Alaska school and public libraries since 1988, starting in Naknek and arriving in Delta Junction in 2003. She became Delta Community Library director in 2018 and has pursued a range of innovative programming over the years, including efforts to engage adults in reading challenges alongside the library's work with younger readers like three-year-old Mikey Testa, who was already earning treats by participating in the library's programs to get kids interested in reading.

The bulletin did not include additional detail on George's specific role or the basis for her selection beyond identifying her as being from Akiachak.