AASL honors Gary Harzell with a Crystal Apple award

Contact: Kathy Agarwal

Communications Specialist

312-280-4381

kagarwal@ala.org

For Immediate Release

June 23, 2006

AASL honors Gary Hartzell with a Crystal Apple

CHICAGO – The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce that AASL President J. Linda Williams has chosen Gary Hartzell, professor emeritus of educational administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as a recipient of AASL’s Crystal Apple. The Crystal Apple 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, Williams cited Hartzell’s focus on the roles and relationships among school librarians and their colleagues.

“Dr. Hartzell speaks about the importance of the library in a school in order for continuous school improvement to take place,” said Williams. “He has been a powerful voice for school library media specialists while providing the tools and instruction for them to be advocates and exert influence in their schools by creating partnerships with the principal and other colleagues in their building. Dr. Hartzell’s message has been to show library media specialists how to promote their library and become an influential player in their school and district.”

Hartzell is an internationally known speaker on librarian-principal relationships. He spoke at the White House Conference on School Libraries in June of 2002. He is a member of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Advisory Committee and a monthly columnist for the School Library Journal.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, 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.