2016 Charlemae Rollins President's Program on Youth Library Spaces

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the theme and speakers for the 2016 Charlemae Rollins President’s Program. The topic of the program will be youth library spaces. Marty Sklar, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, and the man behind the creative development of EPCOT and design supervisor for Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris will give the keynote.  

One of the most transformative services libraries provide children is that of place, whether size and budget allow for a single bulletin board or thousands of futuristic square feet. As places where stories and imagination come to life in an engaging environment, Orlando’s theme parks are unrivaled in the world.

The program will also feature the Center for Childhood Creativity; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; Richland Library; and Clemson University on how child development, architecture, and stories all work together to create spaces that are vital to children and the communities that support them. There will be an interactive show-and-tell of inspiring libraries from across the globe and everyone is invited to share their own spaces of which they’re proud by tweeting pictures using #alscprez. This event will take place on Monday, June 27, 2016, 1:00-2:30pm. A location will be announced soon.

“It's an amazing topic, one that fit perfectly with our surroundings in the city of Orlando,” said Charlemae Rollins President's Program Planning Committee Co-chair Christy Estrovitz. "Marty will bring a unique perspective on how the spaces we provide shape children’s sense of wonder and enrichment.”

"We've assembled a fantastic lineup of speakers and panelists for this event," said Charlemae Rollins President's Program Planning Committee Co-chair Elizabeth Hanson-McChesney. "We're proud to be bringing in representatives from the worlds of libraries, architecture, and childhood development."

The ALSC Charlemae Rollins President's Program is sponsored in-part by the Charlemae Hill Rollins endowment. During her distinguished career in librarianship, Mrs. Rollins was a critical voice in expanding materials that addressed the black experience. Among her numerous awards, she became the first black woman to receive an honorary membership in ALA, an honor bestowed upon her in 1972.

ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.