Exciting news about the Spectrum Scholarship program in this week's ALA News - we have 20 new Spectrum Scholars thanks to a generous donor. These new Scholars join the 2020-2021 Spectrum Scholar Cohort, including three Scholars studying in Michigan:

Irmarie Fraticelli-Rodriguez (ProQuest Scholar), University of Michigan
Cani McMillian (Giles Scholar), University of Michigan
Kendra Moyer (Calloway Scholar), Wayne State University

Thank you to Jesus I. Espinoza, student success librarian at the University of Michigan, for serving on the Spectrum Scholar Jury.

Time remains to apply for an ALA scholarship - including the Spectrum Scholarship - for 2021. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2021.

http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/scholarships

Read on for the ALA News...

ALA forges new path with Midwinter VirtualThe American Library Association hosted the 107th and final Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits online Jan. 22-26, 2021. The event attracted more than 7,100 participants.

The second ALA conference to be presented virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Midwinter Virtual connected librarians and library workers and offered inspiring educational sessions, featuring tools and best practices to navigate new paths in this time of uncertainty.

The conference offered more than 30 educational sessions in the Symposium on the Future of Libraries and News You Can Use programs; more than 25 ALA Division-hosted discussion groups; peer-to-peer live chat opportunities; and more than 50 committee meetings, most of which were open to observers. Read more

ALA announces 2021 Youth Media Awards

The American Library Association (ALA) 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, which took place virtually from Chicago. Read more

Twenty additional 2020-2021 Spectrum Scholarships funded by anonymous donor

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. Last June, she issued a strong challenge for our nation’s librarians, library professionals, and library supporters, calling for the rapid diversification of the LIS field, universal digital access, and a deeper financial commitment to libraries.

Responding to this call, an anonymous funder recently granted $170,000 to ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS) to provide an additional 20 scholarships as part of the 2020-2021 Spectrum Cohort. Read more

New York Times's 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones to serve as 2021 Preservation Week® Honorary Chair

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. As the creator of The New York Times's landmark 1619 Project, Hannah-Jones examines slavery’s modern legacy, reframing the way we understand the history of slavery and the contributions made by Black Americans to this nation. Her essay, "Our Democracy's founding ideals were false when they were written. Black Americans have fought to make them true," was awarded the 2020 Pulitzer Prize. Read more

Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table announces new Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List - nominations open January 2021

ALA’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT) is pleased to announce the new Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List. The inaugural year of the reading list will seek to highlight the best graphic novels for children ages 5-11 published in late 2020 and throughout 2021, increase awareness of the graphic novel medium, raise voices of diverse comics creators, and aid library staff in the development of graphic novel collections. The first list will be announced in January 2022. List selection will be determined by a committee of GNCRT members with a background in selection or use of graphic novels for children. Read more

Celebrate the joy of reading with Miss Piggy and Kermit READ® poster tees

Apparel and accessories company Out of Print is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) on the debut of its Disney Miss Piggy and Kermit Muppets READ® tees. The T-shirt will feature a vintage image of Miss Piggy and Kermit among the library stacks originally released in 1981 as part of ALA’s READ® poster campaign promoting literacy.

Available in adult unisex and adult women sizes, the tees can be purchased at Out of Print. The T-shirts are being introduced during Out of Print’s anniversary sale, and customers can get 20 percent off most products, including the entire ALA READ®collection. No code is required, and the promotion runs through Jan. 31. A portion of sales from the READ® collection goes towards supporting ALA and its programs. Read more

Core Announces the 2021 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists

The Core Committee Recognizing Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction presents the 2021 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists. The lists are composed of notable children’s and young adult science fiction published between November 2019 and October 2020 and organized into three age-appropriate categories. Read more

ALA Film and Media Round Table announces 2021 Notable Films for Adults list

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. Read more

YOUTH MEDIA AWARDS

Tae Keller, Michaela Goade win Newbery, Caldecott Medals

Jacqueline Woodson, Frank Morrison win 2021 Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Dorothy L. Guthrie, 2021 recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

'We Are Little Feminists: Families' wins 2021 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award

David LaRochelle, Mike Wohnoutka win Geisel Award for 'See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog'

Mildred Taylor wins 2021 Children’s Literature Legacy Award

Committee for Children wins Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award for 'The Imagine Neighborhood'

Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann win 2021 Sibert Medal

2021 Batchelder Award honors Enchanted Lion Books for 'Telephone Tales'

Raúl González, Ernesto Cisneros y Yamile Saied Méndez ganan premios Pura Belpré 2021

Raúl Gonzalez, Ernesto Cisneros and Yamile Saied Méndez win Pura Belpré Awards