For me, one of the highlights of the Leadership and ALSC meeting is the announcement of the ALSC Distinguished Service Award winner. Given annually, this award recognizes an “individual member of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) who has made significant contributions to, and an impact on, library service to children and/or ALSC.”
Today, Ellen Fader was announced as this year’s recipient.
Ellen was unable to attend the meeting, but sent powerful words to be read in her absence:
“I believe so strongly in the success of ALSC and America’s libraries and I treasure this honor. I will accept it with all of ALSC’s members in mind, people who taught me to speak up and advocate for what I believed, who showed me that being a youth librarian is really about a career in activism and social justice, and who led me out of my comfort zone to years of leadership for my community’s young people and those across America.”
Congratulations, Ellen. Well-deserved.