HomeBooklist’s Donna Seaman wins Literacy Hero Award

Contact: Mary Frances Wilkens
BooklistGeneral Manager
1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5715
mwilkens@ala.org

For Immediate Release,
February 27, 2008

Booklist's Donna Seaman Wins Literacy Hero Award

Booklist editor and reviewer Donna Seaman was awarded Literacy Chicago's “Literacy Hero Award” at its Annual Gala on February 9. Seaman was honored for her commitment to books and reading, exemplified not only by her editorial position at the American Library Association's Booklist and her widely published literary criticism, but also by her twice-monthly radio show in which she interviews top authors about their work (Open Books Radio, www.openbooksradio.org ).

“Booklist is always proud to see our editors and reviewers recognized for their work,” said Editor and Publisher, Bill Ott. “One of Booklist 's key strengths is the expertise and activity of our editors and reviewers. We salute Donna on this latest achievement and are delighted that our staff can extend their reach beyond the pages or screens of our publications to have an even greater impact on literacy in the U.S.”

Seaman came to the attention of Literacy Chicago through her recent hour-long broadcast called “Invisible No More,” featuring the stories of Literacy Chicago students, tutors and staff and underscoring how reading changes lives. The broadcast was the result of a collaboration in which her focus was on the reader instead of the author. The candid and inspiring interviews shed light on real people such as Ella who, thanks to reading, was able to read an Amber Alert and save a young man's life, and Eric, a seropositive man who loves to express himself through his own improvised freestyle poetry.

“Donna has no idea how much she has empowered Literacy Chicago and its students,” explained Anthony Stoll, the organization's executive director. “We need publicity, our students need recognition for their courage, and working with Open Books Radio brought confidence to all of us about what we're doing here.” As a result of “Invisible No More,” the struggling nonprofit organization has received a number of significant cash and book contributions.

Booklist is the book review magazine of the American Library Association, considered an essential collection development and readers advisory tool by thousands of librarians for more than 100 years. Booklist Online, launched in 2006, includes more than 120,000 reviews as well as a free Web site offering the latest news and views on books and media. For information about subscribing to the magazine or to Booklist Online, visit www.booklistonline.com .

For further information on Literacy Chicago, the largest provider of tuition-free adult reading training in Illinois, visit www.LiteracyChicago.org. To hear Seaman's show on adult literacy, “Invisible no more,” visit www.OpenBooksRadio.org and click on “Interviews,” then “Nonfiction.”