Follett Library Resources to be honored with AASL Crystal Apple

Contact: Kathy Agarwal


AASL Communications Specialist


312-280-4381


kagawal@ala.org
For Immediate Release


May 19, 2005

Follett Library Resources to be honored with AASL Crystal Apple

CHICAGO - The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce that President Dawn P. Vaughn has selected Follett Library Resources as the recipient of the 2005 Crystal Apple Award. The award is given at the discretion of the AASL president to an individual or group who has had significant impact on school libraries and students.

In her recommendation, Vaughn specifically cited Follett Library Resources' support of the school library media field through their sponsorship of the prestigious AASL National School Library Media Program of the Year (NSLMPY) Award.

“Continued sponsorship of this award indicates Follett's commitment to promoting quality library programs that ensure students and staff are effective users of ideas and information,” said AASL President Vaughn. “The dedication that Follett has shown toward school libraries and library media specialists is outstanding.”

Vaughn also cited the company's increase of the award prize from the original amount of $3,000 in 1995 to the current amount of $10,000 per category, as strong evidence of their commitment to school library media excellence and to the important work of school library media specialists.

The AASL President's Crystal Apple Award will be presented at a ceremony and luncheon held on Monday, June 27, during the 2005 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Special guest speaker is the six-time Emmy-award winner and two-time Caldecott Honor recipient author/illustrator Mo Willems, sponsored by Hyperion Press. For more information about the event, please visit the AASL web site
www.ala.org/aasl/annual.

The American Association of School Librarians
www.ala.org/aasl, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.