Nazareth College and the Youth Services Section of the New York Library Association chosen as site for 2013 Arbuthnot Lecture

CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) announced that the 2013 May Hill Arbuthnot Committee has chosen Nazareth College and the Youth Services Section of the New York Library Association in Rochester, N.Y. as the site of the 2013 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture featuring Michael Morpurgo. The honor lectureship will be tied to several other significant events for librarians and readers of children’s and young adult literature during Children’s Book Week and will kick off the 38^th annual NYLA Youth Services Section’s Spring Conference on May 16, 2013.

“The Youth Services Section of the New York Library Association submitted an application that was carefully prepared and embodied incredible community collaboration from local library systems, colleges and even the Seneca Park Zoo,” said Arbuthnot Chair Susan Pine, “The lecture presents a wonderful opportunity for ALSC to partner with a vibrant state-wide library association.”

Morpurgo was chosen to be the 2013 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture presenter at the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting held Jan. 20-24 in Dallas. Born in England, Michael Morpurgo was teaching when he discovered the magic of storytelling and began writing. His books are noted for their imagination, power and grace. In 1976, he and his wife established the charity Farms for City Children. He is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and served as Britain’s third Children’s Laureate. His novel, “War Horse,” has wowed theater audiences in London and New York and movie audiences all over.

The May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture celebrates May Hill Arbuthnot, who served as a strong voice for children’s literature. Each year a lecturer is chosen who will prepare a paper considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children's literature. This paper is delivered as a lecture each spring, and is subsequently published in Children & Libraries, the journal of ALSC. ALSC established the lecture series in 1969 with sponsorship from Scott, Foresman and Company. The lectureship is now funded by the ALSC May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Endowment, and administered by ALSC.

ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC visit www.ala.org/alsc.

Members of the 2013 Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Committee are: Chair Susan J. Pine, Forest Hills, N.Y.; Gratia Banta, Lane Public Library, Hamilton, Ohio; Carolyn Phelan, Northbrook (Ill.) Public Library; Victor Schill, Fairbanks Branch Library, Houston; and Rachael Vilmar, Eastern Shore Regional Library, Salisbury, Md.