Lindsey Tomsu wins the 2016 Loleta D. Fyan Award

CHICAGO — The American Library Association has awarded the 2016 Loleta D. Fyan Award to Lindsey Tomsu’s project “Tween & Teen BUILD Collective” at La Vista Public Library in La Vista, Nebraska. The goal of the project, Tomsu writes, is to “provide tweens and teens (fourth through 12th grade) with educational “toys”, based upon the common theme of building, that will foster their sense of imagination and help them become more creative individuals.”

Fyan Jury chair Larry Grieco remarked, “In a grant cycle that saw a record number of applications, La Vista Public Library came bubbling to the top with its innovative concept for encouraging creativity and teamwork. The fourth through twelfth graders who participate in the library’s BUILD Collective will be some of the luckiest tweens and teens in the USA!”

This $5,000 grant, given annually on a competitive basis, is named for Loleta D. Fyan, an ALA past-president (1951-52), who provided funds for the American Library Association (ALA) in her will. The grant supports a project that will develop and/or improve public library services, will effect changes that are innovative and responsive to the future and have potential for broader impact and application beyond a specific local need. Applicants can include, but are not limited to, local, regional or state libraries, associations or organizations, including ALA units, library schools or individuals.

For guidelines and a list of previous winners see:

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ors/orsawards/fyanloletad/fyanloletad.cfm