ALA News

CHICAGO — After a career of more than 40 years, Catherine Murray-Rust, former Dean of Libraries at Georgia Tech and a self-proclaimed library disrupter, sees our profession’s central challenge as simply this: how to turn the library outward in order to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the community. In her new book “Library Next: Seven Action Steps for Reinvention,” published by ALA Editions, she encourages readers to look an uncertain library future square in the eye.

CHICAGO - Tae Keller, author of “When You Trap a Tiger,” and Michaela Goade, illustrator of “We Are Water Protectors” are the 2021 recipients of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals, the most prestigious awards in children’s literature. 

CHICAGO – Author David LaRochelle and illustrator Mike Wohnoutka are the 2021 recipients of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for “See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog” published by Candlewick Press. The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibition, held virtually Jan. 22 - 26.

CHICAGO – Mildred D. Taylor is the winner of the 2021 Children’s Literature Legacy Award honoring an author or illustrator, published in the United States, whose books have made a significant and lasting contribution to literature for children. Her numerous works include “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” (Dial, 1976) and “All the Days Past, All the Days to Come” (Dial, 2020).

CHICAGO – Committee for Children is the 2021 recipient of the Award for the podcast "The Imagine Neighborhood." The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibition, held virtually January 22 - 26.

CHICAGO – Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, author and illustrator of "Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera," were named the winners of the 2021 Robert F. Sibert Medal for the most distinguished informational book for children published in 2020. The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits, held virtually Jan. 22 – 26.

CHICAGO – Enchanted Lion Books is the winner of the 2021 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for “Telephone Tales.” The award was announced today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits, held virtually Jan. 22 - 26.

The Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s book originating in a language other than English in a country other than the United States and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.

CHICAGO – Raúl González, ilustrador de “¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat”;  Ernesto Cisneros, autor de “Efrén Divided” y Yamile Saied Méndez, autora de “Furia,” fueron seleccionados como los ganadores de la edición 2021 del Premio Pura Belpré de Ilustración; al Autor de Libros Infantiles; y al Autor de Libros para Jóvenes Adultos; que rinden homenaje a los escritores e ilustradores hispanos cuyas obras constituyan el mejor reflejo, afirmación y celebración de la experiencia cultural hispana en la literatura infantil.

CHICAGO – Raúl Gonzalez, illustrator of “¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat,” Ernesto Cisneros, author of “Efrén Divided,” and Yamile Saied Méndez, author of “Furia,” are the 2021 recipients of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award, Children’s Author Award and Young Adult Author Award, honoring Latinx authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books.

CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, digital media, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits taking place virtually from Chicago.

A list of all the 2021 award winners follows:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: 

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) Film and Media Round Table: Notable Videos for Adults Committee has compiled its 2021 list of Notable Films for Adults, a list of 12 outstanding films released on video within the past two years and suitable for all libraries serving adults. Its purpose is to call attention to recent releases that make a significant contribution to the world of film. The list is compiled for use by librarians and the general adult populace.

CHICAGO — Upon assuming the role of executive director of the American Library Association (ALA) last year, Tracie D. Hall prioritized the association's strategic focus on digital and information access; equity, diversity, and inclusion in libraries and the LIS workforce; and the preservation of library services. As a 1998 recipient of the Spectrum Scholarship and former director of ALA's Office for Diversity, Hall immediately went to work in her leadership role, confronting racism and focusing on action.

CHICAGO—Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and New York Times Magazine journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones has been appointed as the honorary chair of Preservation Week 2021, celebrated April 25-May 1, 2021.

CHICAGO — This ALA Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) Webinar is presented by the LIRT Teaching Learning and Technology Committee.

Learn more about augmented reality (AR) tools and best practices you can use to enhance instructional experiences in your library at this FREE webinar! Attendees will learn about a variety of tools for implementing AR and the pros and cons of each. Could AR based instruction work in your library? Discussion will include a variety of areas in which AR can provide unique and engaging experiences.

CHICAGO — The Library Research Round Table of the American Library Association announces the 2021 Jesse H. Shera Award for Distinguished Published Research and the 2021 Jesse H. Shera Award for the Support of Dissertation Research. The LRRT Shera Award Committee will judge the entries for the competition. The decision of the Committee will be announced by the LRRT Steering Committee Chair, prior to the Annual Conference.

There are so many people doing good work; this is a chance to make sure they get the national recognition they deserve. RUSA is seeking nominations for the 2021 Achievement Awards!

Please take a look at the award summaries below with these questions in mind:

EXTON, Pennsylvania — United for Libraries is launching a monthly online program for members, “United for Libraries Learning Live,” which will be held on the fourth Wednesday of each month through 2021. The first program, “Fighting Budget Cuts and Finding Funding,” will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2 p.m. Eastern.

Parents, publishers await announcements of the best of the best in materials, media for youth

CHICAGO — Parents, children’s and young adult authors, illustrators, and publishing groups are waiting in anticipation for the 2021 American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Award (YMA) announcements.

CHICAGO — The four-year RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign Project included a major expansion of the standard to align RDA: Resource Description and Access with the IFLA Library Reference Model, which is the conceptual basis of RDA. This expansion included the addition of several new entities and hundreds of new elements.

WASHINGTON - The American Library Association (ALA) announced today that U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) will participate in ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits virtual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 3:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CT. Sen. Reed will join a conversation with ALA President Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., about opportunities and challenges for libraries in the 117th Congress.