Pam Henderson receives YALSA’s Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has named Pam Henderson as the recipient of this year's Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant, which aims to recognize a librarian who has planned a creative, innovative project that promotes literacy.

"Our jury was unanimously enthusiastic about Ms. Henderson's Cro and Tell Club expanding from an afterschool club to a club during the day during their Eagle period,” shared Gregory Lum, 2025 jury chair. “This affords all students the opportunity to participate."

Henderson will receive $1,000 for her project.

Established in 2020, the Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant is an annual $1,000 award funded by friends and family of Joann Sweetland Lum. As a classroom teacher, a college professor, and a mother, Joann Sweetland Lum was an avid user and advocate of libraries. The application form for the Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant is available in the Grants and Awards section of the YALSA website. Applications must be received by December 1, 2025.

Members of the 2025 Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant Jury are:

Chair Gregory Lum, Mary Lum, Linda Sweetland Mayhew, Joy Milam, Heather Gruenthal, Joe Prince, and Sally Miller

ABOUT Young Adult Library Services Association

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves 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. For more information, visit www.ala.org.