Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

Roselle Public Library District (IL) awarded 2022 Maureen Hayes Award

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has awarded the 2022 Maureen Hayes Award to the Roselle Public Library District in Roselle, IL. The award, sponsored by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, is designed to provide up to $4,000 to an ALSC member’s library to fund a visit from an author/illustrator to speak with children who might otherwise not have the opportunity to hear from a nationally known author/illustrator. 

The Newbery Practitioner’s Guide

CHICAGO — Just in time to celebrate a century of the Newbery Medal, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and ALA Editions present “The Newbery Practitioner’s Guide: Making the Most of the Award in Your Work.” Edited by Laura Schulte-Cooper, this book digs in and explores where the distinguished award intersects with library work in a range of areas such as collection policy, advocacy, programming, EDI efforts, and censorship.

Summer Online Courses with ALSC

CHICAGO-The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is offering two online courses this summer: The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future, in celebration of the end of the 100th Anniversary of the Newbery Medal, and a brand new course, Reading the Art in Pictures Books.  Both classes are asynchronous and begin July 5, 2022.

Jonda C. McNair elected ALSC vice-president/president-elect

CHICAGO — Dr. Jonda C. McNair, Charlotte S. Huck Endowed Professor of Children's Literature, The Ohio State University, Columbus, has been elected vice president/president-elect of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). 

“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve in this leadership position,” McNair said. “ALSC has given so much to me over the years, and I consider it a privilege and an honor to give back.”

Apply to host the 2023 Children’s Literature Lecture with Bryan Collier

CHICAGO — ALSC and the 2023 Children’s Literature Lecture Committee are proud to announce the opening of the application to host the 2023 event featuring award-winning author/illustrator, Bryan Collier.

Swanton (Vt.) Public Library Receives 2022 ALSC/Candlewick Press "Light the Way" Grant

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced that Swanton Public Library (SPL) in Swanton, VT is the recipient of the 2022 ALSC/Candlewick Press "Light the Way: Outreach to the Underserved" Grant. As recipient of the grant, the library will receive $3,000 to engage and uplift the voices of their Native American community, which accounts for approximately 1.5% of the Swanton, Vermont population.

Revisions to Batchelder Award aim to raise recognition of book translators 

CHICAGO — The Board of Directors of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, voted in January to revise the submission criteria for the Mildred L. Batchelder Award to add requirements regarding credit to translators.

Chicago Heights Public Library awarded 2022 ALSC/Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Grant

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has awarded the 2022 ALSC/Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Program Grant to the Chicago Heights Public Library in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

ALSC Names Betsy Diamant-Cohen as 2022 Distinguished Service Award Winner

Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen is the 2022 recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to library service to children and to ALSC. 

Diamant-Cohen is the creator of the Mother Goose on the Loose program series, a groundbreaking program that promotes early childhood literacy and family engagement.

ALA stands with Ukrainian library community

CHICAGO — The American Library Association and its divisions support our Ukrainian colleagues and will work with the global library community to answer the appeal from the Ukrainian Library Association to provide accurate information as a means to support democracy and freedom of expression.