YALSA names winners of 2009 Great Books Giveaway

Contact: Stephanie Kuenn


YALSA Communications Specialist


(312) 280-2128

skuenn@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


February 24, 2009

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), named Lincoln County Public Libraries in Libby, Mont., the winner of its annual Great Books Giveaway. Its library will receive one ton of books, audiobooks and other materials from items publishers and producers donated to YALSA in 2008. Due to the volume of donations, YALSA was able to name two runners-up. Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga., took second place and the Jackson District Library in Jackson, Mich.,. came in third. The estimated value of the entire collection is more than $35,000.

“The Great Books Giveaway presented me with an opportunity to provide Lincoln County’s young adults with a wider range of quality literature and materials than the libraries would otherwise have been able to acquire,” said Sarah Daviau, adult public services librarian at the Lincoln County Public Libraries. “YALSA’s contributions have helped us to further develop YA collections in three communities, collections which are now much more diverse and complete than we have previously been able to offer.”

The application form and information for next year’s Great Books Giveaway are available on the YALSA Web site,
www.ala.org/yalsa. Applications must be received in the YALSA office by Dec. 1. For more information contact the YALSA office, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail,
YALSA@ala.org.Â

The YALSA Great Books Giveaway Jury consists of Vicki Emery, chair, Lake Braddock Secondary School, Fairfax County, Va.; Jennifer Barnes, Homewood (Ill.) Public Library; Elizabeth Elam, Hyattsville (Md.) Library; Janet Sarratt, Gaffney, S.C.; and Daphne Daly, Pima County Public Library, Murphy-Wilmot Branch, Tucson, Ariz.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audio books for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail,
yalsa@ala.org