ALSC recipient of 2017 GLBTRT Award for Political Activism

CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has been named the recipient of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) Award for Political Activism. The award will be presented on Monday, June 26, 2017 during the Stonewall Book Awards program at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

The ALSC Board of Directors is recognized for its efforts to stand for nondiscrimination by cancelling its 2016 National Institute that had been scheduled to be held in North Carolina due the repealing of all GLBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances throughout North Carolina.  

“On behalf of the steadfast 2015-16 ALSC Board of Directors, I’d like to sincerely thank the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table for this humbling honor,” said Andrew Medlar, ALSC immediate past president. “Cancelling the 2016 ALSC National Institute in Charlotte was not an easy thing to do, but standing up for our organization’s core values is something we must always do, and we’re very grateful for the collaboration and friendship of GLBTRT.”

In announcing the award, GLBTRT Chair Deb Sica stated: "The careful consideration and subsequent bravery of ALSC leadership and the incredible support of the membership in their stand against discriminatory practices cannot and should not go unrecognized. We thank them for their thoughtful actions in challenging times."

The GLBTRT Award for Political Activism seeks to recognize librarians and library related organizations who have made outstanding contributions in the area of GLBT activism.  The award consists of a certificate and $1,000.

To learn more about GLBTRT Awards, please visit http://www.ala.org/glbtrt/award

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association is the oldest professional association for GLBT people in the United States.  It is committed to serving the information needs of the GLBT professional library community and information and access needs of individuals at large.  It is home to GLBT Book Month (tm), a nationwide celebration every June and the Stonewall Book Award, the oldest award honoring GLBT books.  GLBTRT is committed to encouraging and supporting the free and necessary access to all information, as reflected by the missions of the American Library Association and democratic institutions.

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world with more than 57,000 members.  Its mission is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.