Children's Librarian Linda Perkins Receives ALSC's Distinguished Service Award
RSSBy Lauren Barack
Sometimes folks get what they deserve in the best sense. That's the case for Linda Perkins, the latest recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children's (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award. Perkins, a children's librarian for more than 40 years, has been a longtime champion of both librarians and kids' book creators. She served as a member of the 1978 Newbery-Caldecott Award committee (back when it was a joint committee) and played a leading role in launching the Pura Belpré Award, which honors outstanding titles about Latino culture. Perkins says she always wanted to be a librarian, but working in children's services was far from her first choice. "I had all of the stereotypes about people who worked with children in my head," she explains from her home in Berkeley, CA. "When I started, a position was open in children's services, and I thought it would be handy—and I needed a job, frankly." It didn't take long for Perkins to grow enchanted with her young patrons, and soon, she says, she was "seduced" into staying in youth services. Although Perkins retired in September 2010 from the Berkeley Public Library, where she worked for the last 32 years, she hasn't shelved her last book. In addition to taking classes—in everything from avant-garde art history to European dynasties—at the nearby University of California, Perkins is honing her tai chi skills and volunteering one day a week at Berkeley Arts Magnet, a K-5 elementary school, where she reads to kids and talks to them about good books. Perkins learned of her award late last month, while attending the American Library Association's midwinter meeting in Dallas, TX, in her capacity as a member of ALSC's 2012 Notable Children's Books Selection Committee. She has also served three terms on ALSC's board of directors and was the youth division's president from 1991 to 1992. Even with this tight alliance, the ALSC award caught her by surprise. "I'm still amazed and touched," she says of the honor. "I knew all of my predecessors who have won the award, I think 19 or 20 of them. And I stand on their shoulders." Truly there is no one more deserving. Linda has led countless librarians to contribute to ALSC. I am grateful to be one who who stands on HER shoulders. Thanks for all you do, Linda! The most deserving awardee, Linda A. Perkins, also stands
on the shoulders of the late (and lamented) Margaret
Skiff who helped form Linda when she began work as
a professional librarian in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. * = Required information
February 6, 2012
Photo by Vikki Marrugg
Reader Comments (3)
Posted by Starr LaTronica on February 7, 2012 04:32:48PM
Posted by Ruth I. Gordon (Big Grandma) on February 7, 2012 08:07:26PM
