Applications now available for the first annual Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming
Contact: Lainie Castle
Program Officer
312-280-5055
lcastle@ala.org
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2006
Applications now available for the first annual Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming
Winner will receive a $4,000 cash award
CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO), in cooperation with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of ALA, is pleased to announce that applications are now available for the newly established Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. Elementary or middle school (public or private) libraries, or any school library program that serves children in any combination of grades K-8, are eligible to apply.
Award guidelines and application are available online at www.ala.org/jaffarianaward and are due by February 28, 2007.
The Sara Jaffarian Award provides a $4,000 cash award and plaque to a school library that has conducted an exemplary program or program series in the humanities. The selected library will participate in a PPO-sponsored national training opportunity, highlighting their award-winning program as a model for others to develop outstanding humanities programs. To be considered, the applicant must have conducted a humanities program or program series during the previous school year. The humanities program can be focused in many subject areas, including but not limited to social studies, poetry, drama, art, music, literature, foreign language and culture. Programs should focus on broadening perspectives and helping students understand the wider world and their place in it.
Award applications are also available by mail. For applications via mail or if you have questions regarding award guidelines please contact the ALA Public Programs Office at 312-280-5045 or publicprograms@ala.org. All applications must be postmarked by February 28, 2007. The winner will be notified in April 2007 and announced in June during ALA’s 2007 Annual Conference in Washington.
The Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award has been named after Sara Jaffarian, a retired school librarian and long time member of ALA. Jaffarian has made a donation to ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund in order to establish the award. The award will be administered by the ALA Public Programs Office, which provides leadership, resources, training, and networking opportunities that help all types of libraries develop and host cultural experiences for adults, young adults, children and families. Awards will be made by a selection committee comprising ALA members, including representatives from the Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee (PCPAC) of the ALA Public Programs Office and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of ALA.
