YALSA gets a new executive director, IMLS awards nearly 50 grants for cultural programs, and information about a new diversity-related award and online course opportunities are in this edition of News Bites. 

YALSA NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Anita Mechler is the new executive director of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Mechler was most recently the project manager/archivist at the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) at the University of Chicago Library, where she designed, developed, managed, measured, and evaluated grant-funded programs and carried out the strategic plans and policies established by the BMRC Board of Directors.  Before going to BMRC, Mechler was director of library and archives and assistant librarian at the Union League Club of Chicago and worked for the Chicago Public Library Humboldt Park Branch as cybernavigator and librarian/technology facilitator at the YOUmedia Teen Center.

CBC LAUNCHES INDUSTRY DIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Children's Book Council Diversity Committee is launching of the CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Awards to be given annually to children’s publishing industry professionals who "are making or have made a significant impact on diversity in book creation and/or employment practices."  Possible qualifications for the awards, which will be given out for the first time this fall, include publishing and marketing diverse books, diversity in hiring and mentoring, and creating greater awareness with the public about the importance of diverse voices.

From July 30 to August 17, children’s publishing house employees can go to the CBC Diversity website and nominate individuals in the industry. The CBC Diversity Committee will read all of the nominations and choose three-to-five winners to be announced at the CBC Annual Meeting on September 27. Each winner will receive $1,000 worth of children’s books for an organization of their choice.

INAUGURAL SALINAS DE ALBA AWARD FOR LATINO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Arte Público Press is now accepting children's book manuscripts to be considered for the inaugural Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children's Literature, which seeks to "address the need for more culturally relevant, bilingual reading materials for Hispanic children by encouraging more authors to create for this growing audience." The award will be given annually to one children's picture book manuscript. 

Between now and December 31, authors can submit entries that are 50 to 1,000 words and written in English, Spanish or both. A committee made up of bilingual educators, authors and reading specialists will select a winner on January 31. Arte Público Press will handle the art and design for the award-winning book. In addition to the publication of the book, the winning author will receive a $5,000 prize. 

IMLS AWARDS GRANTS

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced nearly 50 grants for cultural programs.

The Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC), which supports activities that build the capacity of African American museums and support the growth and development of museum professionals at African American museums, awarded 26 grants and more than $2.2 million to museums in 18 states.

The Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services program awarded 22 grants, totaling nearly $1.5 million, to support museum services of federally recognized tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations in 11 states. The projects will help preserve tribal heritage, culture, and knowledge through exhibitions, educational services and programming, professional development, and collections stewardship. 

LILEAD CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES

During the 2018-2019 school year, The Lilead Project will offer four Lilead Leaders online courses for school library professionals looking to hone their leadership skills and "work toward lasting transformational change for their students, schools, and districts." The courses are: Preparing for Transformational Change (Aug. 15 to Oct. 9); Implementing Evidence-Based Practice (Oct. 24 to Dec. 18); Communicating and Coalition-Building for Change (Jan. 9 to Feb. 12, 2019); and Cultivating Individual and Team Leadership (Feb. 27 to Apr. 9, 2019). Registration is open now for all four courses.