CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce that Sarah Prielipp is the recipient of the 2008 Frances Henne Award. Ms. Prielipp will receive the award at the AASL Awards Luncheon during the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

            As a first-year school library media specialist at Lakeview Elementary School in Gillette, Wyo., Prielipp has embodied her school's mission "Learning to Live...Living to Learn." In his letter of support, Principal Scott Mills said, "Sarah has a philosophy that supports and expands that mission and has worked very hard to be an asset to our students, staff and parents."

            AASL's Frances Henne Award, sponsored by Greenwood Publishing Group, was established in 1986. The $1,250 award recognizes a school library media specialist with no more than five years of experience who demonstrates leadership qualities with students, teachers and administrators. Award recipients have the opportunity to attend an AASL conference or ALA Annual Conference for the first time and must be AASL personal members.

            The AASL Awards Luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, June 30, at the Marriott Hotel-Anaheim. The fee to attend is $49. Special guest speaker for the event is award-winning author Wendy Mass. For more information about this event and more AASL programs in Anaheim, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/annual.

            The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program.  Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.