O'Dell wins ALSC/Econo-Clad Literature Program Award
Contact: Meredith Parets
312-280-2166
mparets@ala.org
For Immediate Release
January 2002
O'Dell wins ALSC/Econo-Clad Literature Program Award
Katie O'Dell, outreach librarian at the Multnomah County (Ore.) Library, is the 2002 recipient of the ALSC/Econo-Clad Literature Program Award, presented by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
The annual award, donated by Econo-Clad Books, a division of Sagebrush Corporation, is given to an individual librarian who has developed and implemented an innovative and outstanding library program for children involving reading and the use of literature.
O'Dell was selected for her development of "The
Oregonian-Multnomah County Library Junior Book Group." The program uses voice mail, email, the state newspaper, and a Web site to coordinate a statewide book discussion group for children in grades 4-8. Once a month, the
Oregonian newspaper publishes an interview with a well-known author and an article detailing the lively discussion between the author and a group of young readers. The article includes a discussion guide, related Web sites, further reading, activities to extend the novel and the announcement of the next month's book. Children are encouraged to share their thoughts about the book either through email or voice mail. From emails and voice mails received, participants are picked to meet or converse on the telephone with the author.
O'Dell will receive $1,000 from Econo-Clad to attend the 2002 ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta June 13-19.
Members of the 2002 ALSC/Econo-Clad Literature Program Award selection committee are: Anna R. Healy, Chair, Skokie (Ill.) Public Library; Silvia Kraft-Walker, Glenview (Ill.) Public Library; Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha (Wis.) Public Library; and Jacquelyn P. W. Viol, Kent District Library System, Grand Rapids, Mich.