For immediate release | August 2, 2011

Ten librarians win Teen Read Week™ Mini Grants from YALSA

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the winners of its 10 Teen Read Week Mini Grants. The grants, funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, give each winning library $1,000 to use for events, programs and services to encourage teen reading and celebrate Teen Read Week, Oct. 16–22.

The ten winners are:

  • Sarah Covey, Zion-Benton (Ill.) Public Library
  • Cory Dickason, Octavia Fellin Public Library, Gallup, N.M.
  • Jessica Fessler, Greenbrier Library, Chesapeake, Va.
  • Maggie Hargrave, Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center: West Regional Branch, Fayetteville, N.C.
  • Jennifer Hopwood, Franklin T. DeGroodt Memorial Library –Brevard County Library System, Palm Bay, Fla.
  • Kyla Johnson, Farmington (N.M.) High School
  • Tim Loge, Chandler (Ariz.) Public Library
  • Laura Mason, Heritage Junior High School, Sterling Heights, Mich.
  • Amanda Tehonica, Flower Memorial Library, Watertown, N.Y.
  • Staci Terrell, Anderson (Ind.) Public Library

Activities include comic-creation workshops, book-to-movie programs, Battle of the Books programs and more.

Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other concerned adults. The purpose of the event is to increase the number of teens who are regular readers and library users. It began in 1998 and is celebrated the third week in October. The 2011 theme is Picture It @ your library, which encourages teens to read graphic novels and other illustrated materials, seek out creative books, or imagine the world through literature, just for the fun of it. For more information or to register, visit the Teen Read Week website at www.ala.org/teenread.

Members of Team Teen Read Week are ALA Graphics, Dollar General Literacy Foundation and Candlewick Press. Nonprofit supporting organizations include AdLit.org, the American Association of School Administrators, American Booksellers Association, Cable in the Classroom, International Reading Association, Kidsnet, Kids Care, Los Angeles Young Adult Authors, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Education Association, National School Boards Association, readergirlz, SmartGirl.org, Speak Up Press, Swept Away TV/The Rock Star Stories and TeenInk.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or email, yalsa@ala.org.

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