ALA Announces Jason Reynolds/Simon & Schuster Travel Grant for Black Librarians

The American Library Association has announced the Jason Reynolds/Simon & Schuster Travel Grant to assist youth librarians who wish to attend ALA.

National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds has partnered with Simon & Schuster to cover the expenses of five Black/African American youth or teen services librarians or school librarians or media specialists who work in public or school libraries. The grant, funded by a donation from S&S, offers up to $3,000 to recipients for travel, housing, and registration expenses to attend the next ALA conference, as well as a ticket to the Coretta Scott King Award Breakfast.

“I’m humbled by the opportunity to give back to some of the folks who’ve given so much, not just to me but to our children,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I recognize that this conference is more than a good time, but also a necessary tuning fork to ensure our librarians, whether new to the stacks or seasoned veterans, get the encouragement and inspiration necessary to continue to pour into our communities.”

Applications will open on September 1 and close on December 1. The winners will be announced in February 2023, and the program will continue forward annually. For more information click here.