NEWS For Immediate Release April 5, 2013

Contact: Cheryl Malden

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has named Heather Ketron the recipient of the 2013 Scholastic Library Publishing Award. The honor, which will be presented during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, is bestowed on a librarian whose extraordinary contributions to promoting access to books and encouraging a love of reading for lifelong learning exemplifies outstanding achievement in the profession. Ketron will receive a citation and $1,000 prize, donated by Scholastic Library Publishing.

Ketron is a respected leader in the field of librarianship and children's and youth services, notable for her dedication to inspiring children to read and learn.  Her passion for reading and learning drives her to build upon the success of Loudoun County Public Library’s 123 Math Science program series that reaches children between the ages of 8 – 11. The 123 Math Science program explores a variety of math and science topics through games, puzzles and experiments. The Loudoun County Public Library’s 123 Math Science program was featured in the October 2010 issue of American Libraries.

Ketron master’s degree in library science is from Catholic University of America.  She currently serves as the Head of Children’s Services at the Gum Spring Library(a branch of the Loudoun County (Va.) Public Library.  Her accomplishments include:

·         a driving passion to get books into the hands of children regardless of barriers and to inspire a love of reading;

·         constantly exploring other opportunities to involve the community in library services and programming;

·         increasing the numbers and scope of community programming in the library;

·         developing, supporting and strengthening the staff she supervises;

·         numerous presentations at the Virginia Library Association’s annual conference;

·         presentation to the Chinese Library Association’s conference in Dongguan, China;

·         school reading enhancement programs and services that range from Rhythm, Rhyme Storytime to Guys Read to Social Studies and Me to the Digital Family technology series;

·         initiated the Open Door Special Needs Storytimes program for autistic children and their families.

“Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is a leader in encouraging reading and using educational technology to foster a love of reading,” said committee Chair Terry Young.  “As someone who is constantly developing new outreach programs for children and young adults, we felt that Heather Ketron was well deserving of this award and demonstrated a strong connection with the same mission that Scholastic has to encourage the intellectual and personal growth of all children, beginning with literacy.”   

The deadline for submission of applications for the 2014 Scholastic Library Publishing Award is December 1, 2014. Guidelines and applicationforms are available on the ALA Web site.

Members of the 2013 Scholastic Library Publishing Award Jury are: Terrence E. Young, Jr., Jefferson Parish Public School System [chair], Nancy M. Bolt, Nancy Bolt Associates; Leslie M. Forsman, Triopia Community Unit School District #27; Diane R. Kelly, Hattie Cotton STEM Magnet Elementary School and Dawn J. Zeig, Malcom S. Mackay School.

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