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CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is pleased to announce that the ALSC Equity Fellowship application cycle is open.

This fellowship will award five ALSC fellowships to American Indian/Alaska Native/First Nations, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Middle Eastern, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander individuals who commit to service within ALSC and demonstrate a capacity for future leadership. Fellowship recipients will receive funding for two-year ALSC and 91´«Ã½ memberships and one year of conference registrations and travel stipends, if applicable, for 91´«Ã½ Midwinter and 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference. Fellowship recipients will also receive mentorship from members of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) within ALSC Implementation Task Force. This year, two of the five fellowship will be supported by a generous donation from members of .

"The 2020 ALSC Equity Fellowship extends the opportunity of the pilot fellowship, initiated in 2018, and ALSC's commitment to reducing barriers to participation in ALSC activities for racial and ethnic minorities," said ALSC President, Kirby McCurtis. "This year ALSC will select five fellows who will develop a strong and lasting network based on their fellowship cohort and their engagement with members of the EDI task force, expand their professional development and access to resources that will positively impact their profession. We appreciate that members of Storytime Underground considered the ALSC Equity Fellowship as a focus of their donor support. We are excited to continue this opportunity and to welcome our second cohort of Equity Fellows".

Each application will be reviewed based on the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to providing direct service to children
• Potential for ALSC leadership
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

The application will remain open from Aug. 1-31, 2020. Visit for more information about the ALSC Equity Fellowship.

Funding for this fellowship is provided by ALSC. ALSC also thanks members of Storytime Underground for their contribution to the Equity Fellowship program which will support two of the five 2020 Equity Fellowships. The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within ALSC Implementation Task Force was established to implement ALSC board approved recommendations set forth by the prior Diversity within ALSC Task Force and will continue through a term ending January 2023.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is driven by more than 4,000 members dedicated to the support and enrichment of library service to children. Our members include youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty. ALSC supports its members in engaging communities to build healthy, successful, futures for all children. To learn more about ALSC and how to join, please visit our website at www.ala.org/alsc.