Campbell wins YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Achievement

Contact: Stephanie Kuenn


Communications Specialist


312-280-2128


skuenn@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


January 26, 2010

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) awarded the YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group’s Service to Young Adults Achievement Award to Patty Campbell, a critic, editor and author based in Fallbrook, Calif. The $2,000 award, given every other year, recognizes a YALSA member who has demonstrated unique and sustained devotion to young adult services through substantial work in several initiatives.




“My objective has always been to create a body of critical writing that would define young adult literature, identify its boundaries, trace its trends, point out its strengths and flaws, and celebrate its beauties,” Campbell said. “It means a lot to be recognized by my colleagues and YALSA for my years doing what made me happy. This is a lovely surprise and I’m thrilled to pieces.”




In nominating Campbell, Dr. Joni Richards Bodart noted that Campbell “more than ‘meets at least two of the criteria’ for this award—she meets all of them….




During her whole career she has promoted library services to young adults, as a front-line librarian, as a reviewer, critic, and editor of young adult literature and literary criticism, and as a mentor to new professionals in the field.”




Campbell, whose next book is “Campbell’s Scoop: Reflections on Young Adult Literature” (Scarecrow Press, 2010), plans to use the award money to develop another book.




The next YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Achievement Award will be given out in 2012.




The 2010 YALSA/Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Achievement Award committee members are: David Mowery, chair, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library; Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, Port Orchard, Wash.; and Sara Ryan, Multnomah County Public Library, Portland, Ore.




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.