Pat Scales is the 2016 recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to library service to children and to ALSC. This year’s recipient, Pat Scales, is a former middle school and high school librarian who is an independent consultant, author, and active member of ALSC and ALA. Throughout her career, Scales has been a passionate advocate for children’s intellectual freedom. She works to educate librarians, teachers, and parents on how to talk about books and teach life lessons through sharing books. Scales’ involvement with children, libraries and ALSC spans 38 years. She served as ALSC President in 2008-2009 and also served as chair of many ALSC award committees including the Newbery, Caldecott, and Wilder award committees. “My first ALA was in 1977, and I learned at that conference that ALSC was my professional…