For immediate release | February 24, 2015

2015 Summer Reading Resources Grant recipients announced

CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has chosen 20 libraries to receive its 2015 Summer Reading Resources grant.

The grant’s purpose is to help fund a library’s summer reading program by supporting the purchase of literacy resources that will strengthen and expand the impact of the library’s summer reading program. Each grant is worth $1,000. The grant is possible through the generous sponsorship from The Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

The recipients are as follows:

  • Jennifer Blair, Covina (California) Public Library
  • Joy DuPont, Columbus (Mississippi ) - Lowndes Public Library System
  • Juanita Kamalipour, Esperanza Acosta Moreno Regional Library; El Paso, Texas
  • Kristine Kreidler McKean, Boynton Beach (Florida) City Library
  • Sara Lee, Central City (Nebraska) Public Library
  • Carolann MacMaster, Auburn (Massachusetts) Public Library
  • Corinna Manion, Mesa County Libraries; Grand Junction, Colorado
  • Lisa Martin, Warren (Michigan) Public Library-Civic Center
  • Jessica McClelland, Citizens Library and District Center; Washington, Pennsylvania
  • Maria Mena, Newport News (Virginia) Public Library System
  • Jessica Meredith, New Port Richey (Florida) Public Library
  • Steve Moser, Lima (Ohio) Public Library
  • Robina Norman, Hazel W. Guilford Memorial Library; Aurora, North Carolina
  • Emily Otis, Anaheim (California) Public Library
  • Jasmine Richard, Lockport (Louisiana) Public Library
  • Emily States, Stillwater (Oklahoma) Public Library,
  • Bill Stea, Waldorf West; La Plata, Maryland
  • Fay Stump, John Handley High School LMC; Winchester, Virginia
  • Isabelle Toomey, Crafton Public Library; Pittsburgh
  • Miranda Walters, Kern County Library-Shafter (California) Branch

To learn more about the grant and summer reading/learning, please visit the Summer Reading & Learning website, an online space where educators, library workers and out-of-school-time providers can find and share helpful summer reading and learning resources.

For years, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has provided Youth Literacy Grants to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations in hopes to provide assistance in implementing and expanding literacy programs for youth. For more information about Dollar General and its Youth Literacy Grants, visit www.dollargeneral.com.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and library staff to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.

Contact:

Anna Lam

Communications Specialist

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

alam@ala.org