ALSC is proud to announce that the 2026 Children’s Literature Lecture will take place at the Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The application was submitted by Lisa Von Drasek, librarian and curator at The Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, University of Minnesota Libraries. Award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Nation) will deliver the lecture in spring 2026.
Per The Minneapolis American Indian Center: Minneapolis is a…”large and tribally diverse urban Native population, numbering well over 35,000 in the 11-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.” Additionally, there are numerous community partners, including 5 academic libraries, 3 public library systems; an independent book store specializing in native books and art; and a literary center.
The Children’s Literature Lecture (formerly May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award) celebrates scholarship and critical thinking about literature for children. The Children’s Literature Lecture Award centers on the distinction of its winners, whose diverse voices and perspectives are important in broadening our understanding of and appreciation for children’s literature.
Stay tuned for the dates and details of the lecture that will be announced by ALSC in the near future. We hope to see you in Minnesota!
Photo Credit: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons
Casey O’Leary is the chair of the 2026 Children’s Literature Lecture committee and has served on the 2024 Children’s Literature Legacy committee, the ALSC Education committee, and the 2021-22 Notable Children’s Recordings committee. She is currently the school media specialist at Mary Nicholson School 70 and the Lead Media Teacher for Indianapolis Public Schools.
LJ Steele
I love this. And will there be some virtual conferences or breakout sessions that someone like me can view on YouTube? Let me know. Thanks. LJ Steele, MA, Retired K12 Educator