Aurora School Librarian Elected To The Prestigious 2011 Newbery Medal Award Committee
Ms. Kathy Shepler, Librarian at Aurora School, Oakland, California has been elected to the national committee that during 2010 will be selecting the 2011 Newbery Medal Award winner.
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) awards The John Newbery Medal annually to the book deemed as the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year. There are no limitations as to the genre of the book considered except that it be an original work.
The ALSC is the world's largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. From creative programming and best practices to continuing education and professional connections-ALSC members are innovators in the field of children's library service.
Ms. Kathy Shepler will join 12 other distinguished children's professionals from around the country in reading and reviewing many children's books published in 2010 that meet the criteria set forth by the Newbery Medal. Each committee member then nominates a small number of the books to review and discuss in the committee's closed forums. Ultimately, only one book will be chosen to receive the 2011 John Newbery Award and marked with the coveted Gold Medal seal. Additionally, a small number of other books may be awarded Newbery Honors and receive a silver seal.
Ms. Shepler is an active, creative and dedicated librarian, and although Aurora is a small school, its library has over 10,000 books. "We have a large variety of books for all grades and interests," says Kathy Shepler, who has been with Aurora School as the librarian for over ten years. "My goal is to provide a diverse and up-to-date selection of books to support students and staff in their classroom curriculum. And - equally important - I want to provide a print-rich environment for all students to find books that interest their free reading. Every student can be encouraged to enjoy reading when we have something they are interested in. The passion for reading is what I want to fuel. If we can feed that passion, it will become the literacy foundation that will support a youth's success in all areas of learning."
And whether the students are looking for contemporary or science fiction, fantasy, horror or mystery books, or information and biography or folklore, they all find something they like. To bring the pleasure of reading closer to them, all students come to library in small groups for 45 minutes a week where they return their library books, have a library lesson and choose new books. Kathy teaches a diverse library curriculum across all grades covering world folklore, fiction genres and non-fiction topics including the history of the book around the world.
Kathy Shepler is also the leader of an adult book group reading recent children's literature books and then holding a Mock Newbery evaluation each January prior to the ALA official committee decisions.
ALSC's network includes more than 4,200 children's and youth librarians, children's literature experts, publishers, education and library school faculty members, and other adults dedicated to creating a better future for children through libraries.
The ALSC also awards the Caldecott, Sibert, Pura Belpre, Carnegie, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medals and the Geisel and Odyssey Awards.