Tabscott and Winkelstein awarded YALSA’s 2016 National Library Legislative Day Travel Stipend

CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) has awarded Denise Tabscott and Julie Ann Winkelstein its 2016 National Library Legislative Day Travel Stipend.

The travel stipend, worth up to $1,000 each and funded by Friends of YALSA, will allow both recipients to attend National Library Legislative Day, which takes place May 2-3, 2016 in Washington, D.C.

Tabscott is a middle school librarian at Wright Middle Prep in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I am thrilled and honored to be a part of National Library Legislative Day,” said Tabscott. “The opportunity to put words into action and participate in advocacy for our school libraries is very exciting.  My goal for NLLD is to carry the message of the importance of a fully funded school library and certified librarian for every school in the state of Tennessee to every legislator with which I have the privilege to speak.”

Winkelstein is a teacher at the University of Tennessee and Infopeople.org. She is also a postdoctoral researcher on an IMLS grant that provides continuing education for public library staff on the topic of LGBTQ youth homelessness.

"I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to attend NLLD and to be able to represent YALSA,” said Winkelstein. “My goal is to offer insights into the critical contributions public libraries make to the health and vitality of communities across the U.S., especially for our young people. As first a librarian and then a researcher, I've seen first-hand the work public libraries do as they provide meaningful and frequently life-changing connections to programs, resources and relationships."

To learn more about National Library Legislative Day, please visit www.ala.org/nlld.  For resources and tips on how to speak up for teens and libraries, visit www.ala.org/yalsa/advocacy.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and library staff to engage, serve and empower teens.  For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.