The ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture is an annual event that started in 1970. Each year, a chosen lecturer prepares a paper and talk considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature. Most recently, Bryan Collier presented the 2023 lecture, and Rita Williams Garcia is slated to present in 2024. The complete list of past lecturers is on the ALSC website.
Who will be selected for the 2025 lecture? The Children’s Literature Lecture Award Committee welcomes nominations for lecturers from ALSC members. The lecturer may be related to the field in any area: author, illustrator, editor, publisher, professor of children’s literature, reviewer, art director, etc., and can be from any country.
The nomination form is available online and open to ALSC members until Monday, July 31st, 2023. The 2025 lecturer will be announced at the 2024 ALA LibLearnX Conference in Baltimore, MD.
Jenna Friebel is a Collection Management Librarian at the Oak Park (IL) Public Library and is the chair of the 2025 Children’s Literature Lecture Award Committee. She has served on several ALSC committees during her past 10 years as a librarian, including the 2020 Newbery Award Committee.