Carmen Agra Deedy to speak at AASL Awards Luncheon during the ALA 2012 Annual Conference

CHICAGO – New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy will speak during the annual Awards Luncheon for the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). The luncheon will be held Monday, June 25, during the ALA 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. More information is available at www.ala.org/aasl/annual.

Deedy began her two-decade-long career as a storyteller whose National Public Radio commentaries were collected and released as the short story collection "Growing Up Cuban In Decatur, Georgia." Her children's books have won numerous awards, including the Jane Addams Peace Association Book Award, the International Latino Book Award and the Best Children's Books of the Year from the Bank Street College of Education. Deedy is an ardent supporter of libraries. She served as the 2008 spokesperson for AASL's School Library Month and has shared her stories with hundreds of thousands of school children who remain her favorite audience. Deedy’s appearance at the awards luncheon is sponsored by Peachtree Publishers.

“The awards committee is extremely excited to have secured Carmen Agra Deedy as the luncheon speaker,” said Nancy Dickinson, awards committee chair. “It is truly amazing to hear her speak about our profession – she really gets us! A sequel to her book, ‘The Library Dragon’ will be out this fall and it is so ‘on target’ for what is going on in school libraries across America. I can't wait to hear what she has to say!”

The AASL Awards Luncheon highlights the best of the best in the school library field and gives members a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of their colleagues. Through collaboration, leadership, national involvement, upholding the principles of the profession and innovative programming, each person or program being honored has made a significant contribution to the school library profession. The luncheon is a public acknowledgement and celebration of school librarians that have modeled excellence in the profession.

Luncheon tickets are $55 and must be purchased in advance. Immediately following the Awards Luncheon is the AASL President's Reception, providing the opportunity to meet and greet the AASL president, board members and other member leaders. To register for the luncheon, and for more information about this and other AASL events at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/annual.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.