American Library Association to Receive Barbara Bush National Literacy Honors Award from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) will receive the 2023 Barbara Bush National Literacy Honors Award at this year’s National Celebration of Reading, hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. The biennial event on Wednesday, October 11 will bring together best-selling authors, members of the Bush family, entertainers, and other special guests who represent the organization's mission at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Receiving recognition for its consistent contributions toward a more literate America, ALA will be presented with the 2023 Barbara Bush National Literacy Honors Award for its longstanding commitment to improving, expanding, and advocating for adult literacy. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions toward the vision of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy for an America in which everyone has the opportunity to read, write, and comprehend in order to navigate the world with dignity.

ALA, which shares the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing literacy efforts in America, is proud to join other members of the literacy community on Wednesday evening to celebrate the transformative power of reading. The award will be accepted by ALA Interim Associate Executive Director Alan Inouye on behalf of the organization.

In addition to the ALA, other honorees will include social media influencer Oliver James, Bernie’s Book Bank, and the Trident Literacy Association. Award-winning authors, including Helena Andrews-Dyer, Jeffrey Nussbaum, and Rebecca Yarros, will also be in attendance. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart will emcee the event, with Mike J. Rogers (MI) and Kristi Rogers serving as chairs.

To learn more about the award and the ceremony, visit www.barbarabushevents.org/ncor2023.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.