Holley wins YALSA/ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Service to Young Adults Achievement Award

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA)  awarded the YALSA/ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Service to Young Adults Achievement Award to Pam Spencer Holley. The $2,000 award, given every other year, recognizes a YALSA member who has demonstrated unique and sustained devotion to young adult services through substantial work in several initiatives.

“If I’ve achieved anything in the library field, it’s been because of my lengthy involvement with YALSA, where I found many opportunities to either be on committees whose work directly impacted teens or serve on the Board of Directors where policy is made for many aspects of library service to teens,” Holley said. “It is an honor to receive this award and I was touched when given the news by committee chair Michael Cart, who was its first recipient.”

“The Greenwood Outstanding Achievement Award Jury is delighted to have selected Holly as the 2014 recipient of this prestigious award,” said Michael Cart, chair. “Pam's service to the profession as librarian, author, and mentor are exemplary and distinguished her in a field of exceptionally strong candidates.”

Holley has been an ALA member for more than 40 years and a YALSA member for more than 30 years. She has served on more than 60 committees, most recently chairing the YALSA Awards Nominating Committee and Financial Advancement Committee. She has also chaired the Odyssey and Michael L. Printz Award Committees and served as YALSA President from 2005 – 2006. She is currently the Fiscal Officer for the 2013 - 2014 Board of Directors. Besides committee service, Holley has authored two books for YALSA, participated in the mentoring program and become an ALA Legacy Society Member.

Members of the 2014 YALSA/ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Service to Young Adults Achievement Award committee are Michael Cart, chair, Columbus, Ind.; Joanne Albano, Commack (N.Y.) Public Library; and Franklin Escobedo, Oceanside (Calif.) Public Library.  

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians 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.