Nancy Pearl wins 2010 Monroe Award for excellence in library adult services

Contact: Liz Markel


Marketing Specialist, RUSA/ASCLA


(312) 280-4398


lmarkel@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


March 18, 2010

CHICAGO—Well-known librarian, educator and tireless reading advocate Nancy Pearl has been selected the winner of the 2010
Margaret E. Monroe Library Adult Services Award, an honor administered annually by the
Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).

The Monroe Award honors a librarian, library and information science researcher or educator who has made a significant contribution to library adult services. Pearl has an extensive career in librarianship and most recently was, until August 2004, the executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library. During her time there, she expanded readers’ advisory services beyond the library walls with the establishment of the One Book/One City reading event, which became a model for similar events now held around the country. Since 1993, Pearl has also taught readers’ advisory and genre literature courses at the University of Washington’s ISchool.

In addition to these noteworthy credentials, Pearl has produced thousands of book reviews and bibliographies and has shared her readers’ advisory skills with other librarians through staff education, lectures and presentations across the country. She also continues to share her love of reading with others through her appearances on National Public Radio and her publications, including “Book Lust”, “More Book Lust”, “Book Crush: For Kids and Teens” and her three-part “Now Read This” series. Her next book, “Book Lust to Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds and Dreamers” will be published in September of 2010.

“Nancy advocates with enthusiasm, humor and passion for the joy of reading and respect for different reading tastes,” said Kathleen Sullivan, award committee chair. “She is a tireless advocate and model for effective readers’ advisory in libraries and in the community.”


Pearl will accept her award at the RUSA Awards Ceremony and Reception, scheduled for 4-5:30 p.m., Monday, June 28, as a part of
ALA’s Annual Conference events. The exact location of this event will be announced on the
RUSA website and at the
RUSA Blog in late spring.

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Not a member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, preconferences and other events? Join, renew or add RUSA to your ALA membership at
www.ala.org/membership. Learn more about the association at
www.ala.org/rusa.