For immediate release | July 29, 2025
Ness Public Library receives 2025 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award
CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has chosen Ness Public Library, in Ness City, Kansas, as the recipient of the 2025 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award. Established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, this award provides up to $4,000 to an ALSC member’s library to fund a visit from an author/illustrator to speak with children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to hear from a nationally known author/illustrator.
The Ness Public Library will host author Kristin L. Gray. Gray is the author of "Amelia Six" a middle grade mystery set in Kansas. The event will be part of a community-wide “One Book, One County” initiative for Ness County. With this event, the library hopes to get kids reading, not just at school, but at home as well. The Ness Public Library will partner with schools and home-schools throughout the county. Additionally, the library is planning to create a reading buddy program, in which an adult patron will be paired with a student to read the book.
Co-chairs Jennifer Knight and Tammie Benham said, “The committee was impressed by the Ness Public Library’s thorough proposal and their inclusion of the entire community. The grant will allow the public library to host an author visit for the first time, which is exciting.”
Michelle Leo, VP, Director of Education & Library Marketing for Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, said, “We are delighted that Kristin Gray will visit the Ness County Library because of the Maureen Hayes Award. We are proud to continue to support this worthwhile program that celebrates the love of books and their creators.”
About the Association for Library Service to Children
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 ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.
