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CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is offering libraries and librarians more than $84,000 in grants and funding through its 2011 professional awards and scholarships.

ALSC’s professional awards and grants recognize outstanding library service to children through creative programming ideas and dedication to librarianship. Applications for awards and grants are now available on the . All applications are due Dec. 1, except for The Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship and the Bound to Stay Bound Books Scholarship, which are due March 1.

Awards include:

Bookapalooza! Each year the ALSC office receives almost 3,000 newly published books, videos, audiobooks and recordings from children’s trade publishers for award and notables consideration. At the end of the year, after the awards have been given out, ALSC selects three libraries to receive a Bookapalooza collection of these materials (estimated to be worth $10,000 each) to be used in a way that creatively enhances their library service to children and families.

The Bound to Stay Bound Books Scholarship provides financial assistance in the form of four $7,000 awards to students who intend to pursue an MLS or advanced degree and plan to work in the area of library service to children in any type of library. The scholarship is made possible through the generous contributions of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc.



The Candlewick Press Light the Way Grant provides $3,000 in funding for a library providing outreach to underserved populations. This grant is made possible through the generosity of Candlewick Press, in honor of Newbery Medalist and Geisel Honoree Kate DiCamillo.

The Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship provides financial assistance in the form of $6,000 scholarships to two students who intend to pursue an MLS degree and who plan to work in children’s librarianship in any type of library.

Louise Seamen Bechtel Fellowship provides a $4,000 stipend to allow a qualified children’s librarian to spend a month or more reading at the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, which contains a special collection of 85,000 volumes of children’s literature published mostly before 1950.

ALSC/BWI Summer Reading Grant provides $3,000 in financial assistance to a public library for developing an outstanding summer reading program for children.

ALSC Distinguished Service Award honors an individual member who has made significant contributions to and an impact on library services to children and ALSC. The recipient receives $1,000 and an engraved pin at the ALSC Membership Meeting during the 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference.

The Penguin Young Readers Group Award offers a $600 stipend, provided by Penguin Young Reader’s Group, for winners to attend their first 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference. Applicants must have less than 10 years of experience as a children’s librarian and work directly with children.

The Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, to bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators. This award provides $4,000 to fund an author/illustrator visit to a school or public library.

All award winners will be announced through a press release on the ALSC website shortly after 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting in early January. Questions about awards, grants and scholarships should be directed to Jenny Najduch, ALSC program officer for continuing education, at jnajduch@ala.org or (312) 280-4026.

ALSC, a division of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), is the world's largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,200 children and youth services librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more, visit the .