K-8 School Libraries Invited to Apply for $5,000 Award

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office announced applications are now open for the 2020 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. The $5,000 award recognizes outstanding school programming in libraries that serve kindergarten to 8th grade students. Applications for the award will be accepted until May 4, 2020.

Nominated humanities program can be focused on a wide range of subject areas including social studies, poetry, drama, art, music, language arts, foreign language, and culture. Nominated programs must have taken place during the current 2019-2020 school year. The programs should be led and coordinated by the school librarian and should be focused on broadening student perspectives.

The award, established in 2006, is named after the late Sara Jaffarian, a school librarian and longtime member of ALA. It is presented annually by the ALA Public Programs Office in cooperation with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

For more information on award guidelines and a list of previous winners, visit www.ala.org/jaffarian.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

Digital Edition