Association for Library Service to Children Supports 2026 Bound to Stay Bound, Melcher Scholarships

CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has awarded a total of six students the Bound to Stay Bound and Melcher Scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

Four recipients were awarded the Bound to Stay Bound Books scholarship, which is made possible by Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. All four recipients will receive $8,000 in scholarship aid for the 2026-2027 academic year. The four recipients are Shiragi Bhakta, attending Louisiana State University; Makalah Kesee, attending Texas Woman’s University; Abigail Maria Koehl, attending Louisiana State University; and Ashley M. Calderon, attending Valdosta University.

Shiragi Bhakta is Librarian I for Mesa Public Libraries in Mesa, Arizona. Makalah Kesee is a Membership Engagement Specialist for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas in Austin, Texas. Abigail Maria Koehl is a 4^th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at the Breakthrough Public Schools in Cleveland, Ohio. Ashley M. Calderon is a Children’s Librarian for the Palm Springs Library in Palm Springs, Florida. 

Two students were awarded a Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship, which is made possible by contributions from librarians, professionals and others associated with the field of children’s literature. Each award provides $8,000 in scholarship aid for the 2026-2027 academic year. The two recipients are Charity Christine Arredondo, attending Emporia State University; and Allison Lowrey, attending Old Dominion University.

Charity Christine Arredondo is a Library Associate at the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Allison Lowrey was most recently a Lead Classroom Teacher at Lumberton Public Schools in Lumberton, New Jersey.

Each year, ALSC provides the Bound to Stay Bound Books and Melcher Scholarships to help advance the profession of children’s librarianship. Recipients must complete their academic work at an ALA-accredited institution and demonstrate a commitment to library service to children. Recipients are also strongly encouraged to accept or hold positions after graduation in the field of library service to children for at least one year.

“On behalf of ALSC, I'm pleased to congratulate this year's Bound to Stay Bound and Melcher Scholarship recipients," says 2026-2027 ALSC President, Ariana Sani Hussain. "Our recipients come to this work from different starting points, as classroom teachers, library staff, and community leaders, but this support advances each of them in their next steps toward library services to children."

The ALSC Professional Recognition and Scholarships Committee, charged with selecting ALSC’s scholars each year, include: Gwen Vanderhage (Co-Chair), Jenny Rosenoff (Co-Chair), Heather Love Beverley, Dr. Brenda Dales, Grace Enriquez, Bethni King, Maria Xochitl Peterson, and Sylvia Tag.

About the Association for Library Service to Children

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is driven by approximately 3,000 members dedicated to the support and enrichment of library service to children. Our members include youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty. ALSC supports its members in engaging communities to build healthy, successful futures for all children. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.