After I left Atlanta, I was thinking about the many other wonderful awards that are given out yearly (or every few years) by several affiliates of ALA that might not receive the same fanfare. The Awards section of the YA & Kids Professional Tools resource offers a selected list of these youth awards that can help your Readers’ Advisory and reference sessions.

The American Indian Library Association announces winners of their American Indian Youth Literature Award every two years and “the awards were established as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. Books selected to receive the award will present American Indians in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts.” ¹ They even offer a PDF brochure with their latest winners to share with patrons and fellow librarians.

The “goal of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.”² Given out annually by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, the awards cover not only three categories of youth literature but also Adult fiction/Graphic Novels and Adult nonfiction.

REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, co-sponsors an annual award with ALSC. “The Pura Belpré Award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.”³ Their book awards honor both writing and illustration for children and teens.

Check out the Awards section for further resources and recommendations.

References

¹ http://ailanet.org/activities/american-indian-youth-literature-award/

² http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/literature-awards/

³ http://www.reforma.org/content.asp?pl=7&contentid=7

The post Exploring Youth Book Awards first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Would you like to learn about a simple strategy that will make you, your library, and our profession indispensable for centuries to come? Join in an interactive day (lunch included!) to learn how a growing number of libraries are repositioning themselves as a key component of the education enterprise, alongside schools, colleges, and universities. Implementing this powerful approach is simple. It does not require changing anything we do—only what we say. Library Journal calls this approach “a 21st-century model worthy of study and consideration by every library in America, if not the world.”

Come explore, discuss, and practice proven techniques to:

• Redefine libraries in a new, innovative way;
• Align your library with what the community values most: education;
• Incorporate intuitive, value-enhancing words into your everyday lexicon;
• Heighten your library’s visibility and stature; and
• Develop strategies that you can integrate immediately into your work.

Presenter

Valerie J. Gross, MM, MLS, JD, is President & CEO of Howard County (Md.) Library System (HCLS), a 2013 Library of the Year (Gale, Library Journal). Developing a new vision for libraries, Gross worked with the HCLS Board, staff, funders, politicians, and the community to implement the “libraries = education” approach. She led the transformation of HCLS to its current prominence as a renowned educational institution, alongside the region’s schools, colleges, and universities. Gross has presented 50+ workshops, seminars, webinars, and keynotes, drawing the participation and input of thousands of library professionals from 42 states and more than a dozen counties around the world. Combining these experiences, she authored Transforming Our Image, Building Our Brand: The Education Advantage (ABC-CLIO, 2013).

An educator and attorney for nearly 30 years, Gross holds a Master of Music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a Master of Library Science from San Jose State University, and a law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. She is a member of the American Library Association, Public Library Association, Maryland Library Association, Leadership Howard County, and California Bar Association.

Registration

Advance Registration is open! You can register for this Institute (event code: PLA1) with or without an ALA Midwinter Meeting registration.

The post Who We Are, What We Do, Why It Matters: Our Distinctive Purpose first appeared on Public Libraries Online.