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“I am honored and a little lost for words to be named this year’s RUSA Isadore Gilbert Mudge Awardee. During my little-more-than a decade in libraries, I’ve strived to uplift the voices of our communities, to ensure that library workers are prepared, compensated, and protected in their work, and have dedicated my career to blending academic health sciences librarianship and comics librarianship. Championing graphic medicine, both at my own institutions and across the world, has been a joy and I have been fortunate to be supported in carving out and expanding this niche space into something much bigger than any one collection or program. I am eager to continue bringing comics into new and unexpected spaces, while championing our profession’s values and ensuring that libraries remain a space for everyone at all costs. I am grateful for this recognition, and most of all, for being in community with you all.” – Matthew Noe

“RUSA proudly congratulates Matthew Noe as the 2026 Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award recipient. Matthew’s pioneering scholarship in graphic medicine, transformative leadership across professional organizations, and distinguished contributions to reference librarianship at Harvard’s Countway Library exemplify the excellence this award honors. RUSA celebrates his achievements and the lasting impact he brings to the profession.” – Award Committee Statement

“Recognizing Matthew Noe with the Mudge Award affirms RUSA’s commitment to practitioners who expand the very definition of reference librarianship through scholarship, service, and vision.”