Bischof, Ghosh receive Penguin Random House Young Readers Group Award

CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has awarded the 2026 Penguin Random House Young Readers Group Award to Sam Bischof, Lake Region (ND) Public Library; and Aparajita Ghosh, Broward County (FL) Library.

The $1,200 stipend, made possible by an annual gift from Penguin Random House Young Readers Group, enables up to two children’s librarians to attend their first American Library Association Annual Conference. Applicants must demonstrate an involvement in ALSC as well as other professional and educational associations. New programming or innovations initiated by the applicants is highly important. Less than 10 years of experience of working directly with children in elementary, middle schools or public libraries is required.

Bischof is the sole youth services librarian in her district, serving over 900 children and their families, as well as numerous non-resident families from the greater community. In her role, Bischof has deeply evaluated her collection to ensure that it meets the diverse voices and needs of her community, and her weekly programming is far-reaching and fosters deep partnerships with other community organizations including: ASL Storytime with the North Dakota School for the Deaf and Travelling Storytime with craft activities supported through Lake Area Career and Technology Center. Bischof has secured additional funding for her library via her local VFW Auxiliary’s Patriotism Through Literacy program. Bischof is a member of ALSC and a recipient of the North Dakota Library Association Conference Scholarship.

At the Northwest Regional Library, Ghosh touches the lives of more than 5,000 patrons a month. In her busy children’s room, Ghosh plans a wide variety of developmentally conscientious programs ranging from baby lapsit programs, which can see an attendance of nearly 100 participants a week, to Sensational Experience, aimed to support the needs of her neurodivergent community, to school-aged fun such as Mini Golf between the Stacks, for which she seeks support from her student volunteers. Ghosh’s focus on language and language development has led her to create a Stories Around the World program, a community collaboration to narrate and offer stories in their myriad home languages. Ghosh is a member of both ALA and ALSC.

“The committee is excited to recognize two librarians who make a significant impact through thoughtful, collaborative, and engaging programs that highlight the diverse fabrics of their communities,” said Jenny Rosenoff and Gwen Vanderhage, co-chairs of the Professional Recognition and Scholarship Committee. “Attending the annual conference will offer them the chance to interact with librarians from around the country and share what they learn with colleagues and families back home.”

The 2026 ALSC Professional Recognition and Scholarships Committee includes: Jenny Rosenoff, Co-Chair, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ; Gwen Vanderhage, Co-Chair, Brodart Company, Williamsport, PA; Heather Love Beverly, Cook Memorial Public Library District; Vernon Hills, IL; Brenda Dales, Miami University, Oxford, OH; Grace Enriquez, Lesley University, Boston, MA; Bethni King, Georgetown Public Library, Georgetown, TX; Maria Xochitl Peterson, Chicago, IL; Sylvia Tag, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.

About the Association for Library Service to Children

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 3,000 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.