Please excuse any cross-postings.

I'm encouraging youth services librarians in public libraries to consider applying for this award. Public libraries can apply but haven't done so very often in the past and I know that there are programs in NJ just as wonderful as the public library mentioned below that won the award in 2009.

Best, Sharon Rawlins, Youth Services Consultant, NJSL

Coming Up Taller

IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) uges all public libraries to apply because there was only a single library honored in 2009. This award honors libraries that provide successful afterschool, out-of-school, or summer arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth. IMLS urges libraries to self-nominate or seek nominations within their community for this award.
The Elsie S. Hogan Community Library in Willcox, AZ, was the sole public library winner in 2009. Here is a bit of background on their award winning project: In the TAG (Teen Advisory Group) Teen program, teens plan content for the three issues of TAG Magazine per year, then write, edit, design, layout, distribute, and fund them through advertising sales. A monthly theme is woven with education workshops, field trips, and fun get-togethers that brings a forum for teen creativity in the arts and writing to a small, rural community, and creates in turn a high quality magazine that all area teens can enjoy. In the process, they not only explore their creativity in art and writing, but learn self-confidence, gain interpersonal skills, are are empowered to strike out on future paths that they would have considered only dreams before. In addition to the magazine, the year-round program features workshops, speakers, and discussions.

Coming Up Taller Awards recognize outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America\x92s young people by providing them with learning opportunities and chances to contribute to their communities. These awards focus national attention on exemplary programs currently fostering the creative and intellectual development of America\x92s children and youth through education and practical experience in the arts and the humanities. Accompanied by a cash award, the Coming Up Taller Awards not only reward these projects with recognition but also contribute significant support to their continued work.

This Awards program is a project of the President\x92s Committee on the Arts and Humanities in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. It was started in 1998.

Each year, ten awards of $10,000 each are presented to Coming Up Taller Awards honorees. In addition, a Certificate of Excellence is given to all semifinalists. Museums and libraries are encouraged to apply. For more information and the nomination form, see http://www.pcah.gov/cut/2010CUTNominationApplication.pdf or www.cominguptaller.org

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