ALSC, ALA unveil 'Inspiring Future Voters' booklist for young readers

CHICAGO – As part of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Reader Voter Ready 2024 civic engagement campaign, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has released “Inspiring Future Voters,” a new booklist for young readers. Released at the biennial ALSC National Institute conference, the list features fiction and nonfiction books that inform youth about the voting process and inspire civic participation. Compiled and annotated by ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting committee, titles are organized into five separate lists by age range: birth-preK, grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8 and young adult. The booklists are free to download on the Reader Voter Ready web page.

ALSC President Rob Bittner said, “These days we talk a lot about the children being our future. But for this to happen, children need to be informed enough to shape that future for themselves. There is a lot to be learned before voting age, and this booklist ensures that young people are prepared for the day that they first enter the voting booth and take charge of deciding their future. I invite libraries, daycares and other organizations working with and for youth to share these recommendations with patrons, students, parents and other community partners.”

ALA President Cindy Hohl said, “ALA launched the Reader Voter Ready campaign because democracy is everybody’s business, and libraries play a vital role in getting Americans ready to participate in it. We also know that transformation from future voter to well informed citizen does not happen suddenly when a person turns 18. ALSC’s ‘Inspiring Future Voters’ booklist can begin to inform and equip even the youngest of Americans to participate in our democracy as voters in training.”

The “Inspiring Future Voters” booklist is the latest complement to the suite of resources for libraries offered by Reader Voter Ready, ALA’s campaign to support libraries in getting every eligible American informed, registered and ready to vote in the November 2024 elections. ALA is encouraging libraries to use Reader Voter Ready resources, including the “Inspiring Future Voters” booklist, during National Voter Education Week (October 7-11, 2024) and beyond.

About the American Library Association (ALA)
ALA is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. Visit www.ala.org.

About the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
ALSC, a division of the American Library Association, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 3,300 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for all children through libraries. Visit www.ala.org/alsc.