Eight librarians receive literacy scholarship and $1,000 to attend PLA 2014

CHICAGO – Eight public librarians who demonstrated their involvement in exceptional literacy programs have received the Innovations in Literacy Scholarship from the Public Library Association (PLA). Recipients will be awarded $1,000 for registration and travel to the PLA 2014 Conference in Indianapolis, March 11-15. This new scholarship is funded by a generous donation from the Cambria Estate Winery, which has a strong tradition of supporting literacy initiatives. Scholarship recipients are:

• Nancee Dahms-Stinson, Springfield-Greene County (Mo.) Library District; early literacy
• Ana Devine, Gail Borden Public Library District, Elgin, Ill.; summer outreach to at-risk children
• Diana Garcia, Monterey Park (Calif.)- Bruggemeyer Library; youth literacy for children of parents with limited English proficiency
• Greg Hill, Noel Wien Library, Fairbanks, Alaska; targeted fourth-grade boy reading program
• Sarah Lawton, Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury, Vt.; youth digital and media literacy
• Yolanda Medina, Richardson (Texas) Public Library; adult literacy for Hispanics
• Barbara Roberts, Pelham (Ala.) Public Library; financial literacy
• Aaron Stefanich, Grand Forks (N.D.) Public Library; S.T.E.M. (Scientific, Technological, Engineering, and Mathematical) literacy

The winning programs are all unique and inventive and demonstrated measurable impact on their respective communities. Submissions were evaluated on their innovation and creativity; level of collaboration among staff and community; measurements of success; sustainability; ease of replication and quality of submitted materials.

PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve, and its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.