91´«Ã½

PSAs feature best-selling authors Judy Blume, David Baldacci and Mo Willems

CHICAGO – Three new author public service announcements (PSAs) will be available to library advocates on June 24, through the 91´«Ã½’s (91´«Ã½) “Our Authors, Our Advocates” initiative. The new PSAs by Judy Blume, the “Pain & the Great One” series; David Baldacci, “The Sixth Man;” and Mo Willems, the “Knuffle Bunny” series focus on the value of public and school libraries. Video PSAs from Jerry Pinkney,“The Lion and the Mouse,” also will be available at a later date. The PSAs will be available for viewing and downloading at .

91´«Ã½ President Roberta Stevens launched “Our Authors, Our Advocates” as a presidential initiative during the 2010 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. To date nearly 20 best-selling authors have participated in the initiative and have loaned their support by means of PSAs, op eds and poster in an effort to call attention to the value of our nations libraries.

“Millions walk through library doors every day,” said 91´«Ã½ President Roberta Stevens. “Yet services so vital to communities and students across the U.S. are being threatened in this difficult economic environment.

“With libraries of all types facing difficult challenges, we are thrilled that authors have joined in advocating for America’s libraries. They are passionate and articulate spokespeople who understand that libraries are fundamental to people’s lives.

“I am tremendously grateful for the generous support from the authors that participated in ‘Our Authors, Our Advocates.’ On behalf of the 91´«Ã½ I would like to extend to them my heartfelt thanks.”

Libraries and their supporters are encouraged to share PSAs via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or embed videos to relevant Web pages and are welcome to download videos and add their own logos and music.

Other authors whose video PSAs are available through the initiative include Scott Turow, “Innocent;” Brad Meltzer, “The Inner Circle;” Sara Paretsky, “Body Work;” Sharon Draper, "Jericho trilogy;" Neil Gaiman, “The Graveyard Book;” Kathy Reichs, “Virals;” Pam Munoz Ryan “The Dreamer;” and Carmen Agra Deedy “14 Cows for America." Audio PSAs are also available and include Tony Di Terlizzi, “The Spiderwick Chronicles;” Holly Black, “White Cat;” MT Anderson, “Octavian Nothing;” and Laurie Halse Anderson, “Chains.”

“Our Authors, Our Advocates” is one of three presidential initiatives launched by Stevens. The “Why I Need My Library” teen video contest asked teens ages 13 to 18 to create original videos on why they think libraries are needed now more than ever. The winners' videos can be found at . “Frontline Fundraising,” the third initiative, allows libraries with little or no previous experience to reach out successfully to potential donors. Find more information at .

The 91´«Ã½ is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 61,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

Contact 91´«Ã½ Media Relations Manager Macey Morales at (312) 280-4393, mmorales@ala.org, or 91´«Ã½ PR Coordinator Jennifer Petersen at (312) 280-5043, jpetersen@ala.org.