What is ALSC and What Does It Have to Do With All Those Children's Book Awards?

Question: What is ALSC and What Does It Have to Do With All Those Children's Book Awards?

Answer: ALSC stands for the Association for Library Service to Children, which is one of the eleven divisions of the American Library Association. The core purpose of ALSC is “Creating a better future for children through libraries” and its primary goal is "To lead the way in forging excellent library service for all children." (ALSC Strategic Plan)

ALSC administers a number of major children’s book awards, including the John Newbery Medal, the Randolph Caldecott Medal, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the Andrew Carnegie Medal, the Mildred L. Batchelder Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. It also administers several children’s booklists, including the annual Notable Children’s Books List.

ALSC partners with a number of organizations on special projects and events. These include Reading Rockets, which ALSC describes as "a national multimedia project that looks at how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help," Drop Everything and Read" (D.E.A.R.) Day, a national initiative held on April 12, the birthday of popular children's author Beverly Cleary, and Between the Lions ™, the PBS children's television series.