Author and National Ambassador Meg Medina Selected Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2024

CHICAGO — Award-winning author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina has been selected Honorary Chair of National Library Week, April 7-13, 2024, which celebrates the indispensable role of libraries and library workers in schools and communities.

“I’m thrilled to serve as the honorary chair of National Library Week for 2024,” Medina said. “Libraries connect our communities and enrich our lives in ways we may not realize, and one of my greatest pleasures is discovering the unexpected and beautiful things libraries offer. From book groups to lending sports equipment to providing a safe after-school hangout space and so much more, libraries support us wherever we find ourselves on the roadmap through life’s journey.”  

“Ready, Set, Library!” is the theme for the 66th annual National Library Week. It reminds us of the dynamic role of libraries in our always-online world. They provide a place to connect with others, learn new skills and focus on what matters most.

“We are delighted to have Meg Medina join us as Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2024,” said American Library Association President Emily Drabinski. “As National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature, she embodies our profession’s commitment to youth literature. Medina’s staunch support for the right to read and her advocacy for Latino and African American youth are exactly what we celebrate this week.”  

Medina, the 2023­­­­–2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, is a Cuban American author who writes for readers of all ages. Her middle-grade novel "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" received a Newbery Medal and was a New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of the Year. Its sequel, "Merci Suárez Can’t Dance," received five starred reviews, while Kirkus Reviews called "Merci Suárez Plays It Cool" "a fabulous finale to a memorable trilogy." 

Her most recent picture book, "Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away," received honors including a Charlotte Zolotow Award and was the 2020 Jumpstart Read for the Record selection, reaching 2.24 million readers. She received a Pura Belpré Author Award Honor for her picture book "Mango, Abuela, and Me," and a Pura Belpré Author Award and a Cybils Award for her young adult novel "Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass," which has been adapted and illustrated as a graphic novel by Mel Valentine Vargas. When she is not writing, Medina works on community projects that support girls, Latino youth, and literacy.

“Join me and the American Library Association in celebrating the gift of libraries everywhere and the adventures and opportunities they unlock for us every day,” Medina said. “Ready, Set, Library!”  

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