2017 ALA Award Winners

2017 ALA Award Winners

September 1, 2017

SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARDS Jen Bryant and Boris Kulikov Six Dots, written by Bryant and illustrated by Kulikov, won the award for young readers. Louis Braille, who became blind by age 5, didn’t allow his disability to prevent him from learning about the world around him. Unsatisfied with the options available, Braille tinkered with French … Continue reading 2017 ALA Award Winners



The Malaysia delegation, who will host the World Library and Information Congress next year in Kuala Lumpur, takes the stage at the Closing Session.

Countdown to Kuala Lumpur

August 25, 2017

Scheeder, addressing the crowd for the last time as president before Glòria Pérez-Salmerón’s term begins, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and strengthening regional strategy during her term. “I never imagined we would travel so far together, so fast,” she said. “You create the kind of change … Continue reading Countdown to Kuala Lumpur


2017 Carnegie Medals shortlist titles

ALA Unveils 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medals Shortlist

October 25, 2016

2017 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction shortlist titles include: Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction 2017 Shortlist The Firebrand and the First Lady: Portrait of a Friendship: Pauli Murray, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Struggle for Social Justice, by Patricia Bell-Scott, published by Alfred A. Knopf, Penguin Random House LLC. Bell-Scott … Continue reading ALA Unveils 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medals Shortlist


National Library Board of Singapore's library@orchard

International Library Innovators

September 23, 2016

The citation began as an initiative of Loriene Roy, 2007–2008 ALA president. Since its inception, 38 groups have been presented with the honor. The four 2016 winners were recognized for designing and implementing highly visible, innovative services that greatly improve existing library services for users. The projects draw attention to the potential of library service … Continue reading International Library Innovators


2016 ALA Award Winners

2016 ALA Award Winners

September 1, 2016

Kelvin Watson ERNEST A. DIMATTIA JR. AWARD FOR INNOVATION AND SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AND PROFESSION of $5,000 recognizes a public librarian who demonstrates leadership in anticipating emerging trends in services, products, and technologies that will enhance the library’s position in its community. Donor: The DiMattia Family Watson, chief innovation and technology officer of Queens (N.Y.) … Continue reading 2016 ALA Award Winners


Mayor Rafal Dutkiewicz invites delegates to the 2017 IFLA conference in Wrocław, Poland.

See You in Wrocław!

August 22, 2016

“I’m happy to say I saw action at this meeting and a commitment to positive change,” said IFLA President Donna Scheeder at the Closing Session. Annual awards Maria-Carme Torras i Calvo, chair of the Professional Committee, presented the Professional Committee Award to two sections this year. “The jury really struggled to selection just one winner,” … Continue reading See You in Wrocław!


The presentation of ALA Presidential Citations for Innovative International Library Projects at the International Relations Round Table (IRRT) International Librarians' Reception on June 29, 2015, in San Francisco. Photo: IRRT

ALA Honors International Innovators

October 6, 2015

Earlier this year, ALA President Courtney L. Young, with support from the International Relations Round Table Advisory Award Committee, honored four libraries with this special citation at the 2015 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco. They were recognized for designing and implementing a highly visible innovative library service that was unique or original … Continue reading ALA Honors International Innovators


The Mzansi Youth Choir of Soweto performs at the opening session of the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Cape Town. Photo: George M. Eberhart

Strong Libraries, Heritage, and Crises: IFLA in Africa

September 23, 2015

The opening session on August 16 began with a dynamic performance by South African actor, poet, and author Gcina Mhlophe, one of the few women storytellers in the country. Against a backdrop of images of African scenery and wildlife, Mhlophe described how creativity and musical rhythm were born long ago on the continent, and people … Continue reading Strong Libraries, Heritage, and Crises: IFLA in Africa


Karen Muller

Understanding Diversity

September 21, 2015

Even if we would like, we cannot know every book in our collection; nor is it likely that we will know the reading interests of every patron. How then do we advise those looking for reading suggestions? Crash Course in Readers’ Advisory, by Cynthia Orr, reviews the basics of readers’ advisory services, starting with a … Continue reading Understanding Diversity