Gary Hartzell Wins Crystal Apple Award

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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 7/5/2006

Gary Hartzell, professor emeritus of educational administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a columnist for School Library Journal, has been awarded the Crystal Apple Award by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

The honor is given to an individual or group who has had a significant impact on school libraries and students.

"Dr. Hartzell speaks about the importance of the library in a school in order for continuous school improvement to take place," says AASL President J. Linda Williams. "He has been a powerful voice for school library media specialists while providing the tools and instruction for them to be advocates and exert influence in their schools by creating partnerships with the principal and other colleagues in their building. Dr. Hartzell's message has been to show library media specialists how to promote their library and become an influential player in their school and district."

Hartzell is an internationally known speaker on librarian-principal relationships. He spoke at the White House Conference on School Libraries in June 2002 and is a member of the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Advisory Committee. To read some of Hartzell's columns, visit, www.slj.com.