Christa Bell receives YALSA’s Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant

CHICAGO - The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has named Christa Bell 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. 

"I am honored to receive the Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant in memory of such an impactful advocate for youth literacy,” said Bell. “I am excited to bring ‘Panels & Possibilities: A Student Graphic Novel Studio’ to our school library and empower students as creators and storytellers.

Bell will receive $1,000 for her project.

Gregory Lum, 2026 jury chair and husband to the late Joann Sweetland Lum, said, "The committee reviewed and vetted numerous applications from across the country, from California to Iowa to New Jersey. Ms. Bell’s application stood out because of her vision to design a new space where students can create graphic art and tell stories. Additional strengths included her desire to collaborate across subject areas, the project’s strong sustainability, and its focus on engaging students’ creativity through digital literacy. My wife, Joann, would have been especially excited to see this project come to life."

Established in 2020, the Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant is an annual 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. 

Members of the 2026 Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant Jury are: 

Chair Gregory Lum, Rebecca Caufman, Janet Sweetland Liscio, Kristin Lum, Nick Taylor, Jennifer Woods, and Pam Henderson (2025 Lum Grant Recipient) 

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 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.