The DeKalb Public Library held an open house to honor one of its librarian’s recent achievements on Thursday.

The event was held in recognition of Teen Librarian Steve Roman’s recent receipt of the Gale Cengage Superhero Librarian award.

The Superhero Librarian was a contest held by the Gale Cengage Learning Center to find four librarians who embody the traits of a superhero, Roman said.

The contest required library patrons to write in about the librarian they think most fit the role.

“The contest had about 5,000 entries,” Roman said. “Of those, there were eight nominees and four winners.”

For receiving the award, Roman was given a superhero identity and everything that goes along with it.

“I got a cape, and even a lunchbox with my face on it!” Roman said.

The Superhero Librarian wasn’t the only award Roman has won for his work at the DeKalb Public Library.

“Steve has won two awards in two years,” said Edith Craig, public relations coordinator at the DeKalb Public Library. “Last year he won DeKalb County Keys’ Asset Builder award.”

Also on display was the book Roman wrote, “Read On… Science Fiction,” which is a guide for fans and librarians about science fiction literature.

“It’s meant to help librarians, who maybe don’t know much about the genre, make recommendations to a fan looking for something to read,” said Roman.

Roman runs several groups which intend to get teens to want to visit the library.

He has run gaming groups, comic book groups and a sci-fi and fantasy reading group, said Andrew Weckerly, Sycamore resident and one of the people who wrote in a nomination for Roman.

Weckerly spoke very highly of Roman’s personality.

“I can’t think of someone more devoted to taking care of nerds,” Weckerly said. “He’s really been somewhere between a mentor, a father figure and a very close friend.”

Roman’s favorite part about receiving the award was hearing all the good things participants had to say about what he’s been doing.

“You always hope that someone’s paying attention,” Roman said. “It’s good to see that people are.”