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CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has named Rebecca Caufman, Library Media Specialist at Radford High and Dalton Intermediate School Library in Radford, Virginia as the recipient of this year's , which aims to recognize a librarian who has planned a creative, innovative project that promotes literacy.

"April is going to be an amazing month for our 7th-12th graders to visit their school library thanks to the news that we have been awarded this year's Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant! Our proposal, "Promoting Poetry to Help Secondary Students Express Themselves Through Another Challenging Year," outlined our dreams to celebrate National Poetry Month in a grand fashion this year," said Caufman. "Not only will much needed new poetry books be added to our collection, each week students will be provided a creative outlet to express themselves. I would like to thank the members of the Joann Sweetand Lum Memorial Grant Jury and all who contributed to this grant for your support!"

Caufman will receive $1,000 to purchase materials to celebrate poetry in a public secondary school library that serves students in grades 7-12.

Established in 2020, the Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant is an annual $1,000 award of Joann Sweetland Lum. As a classroom teacher, a college professor, and a homeschooling mother, Joann Sweetland Lum was an avid user and advocate of libraries. The application form for the Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant is available in the section of the YALSA website. must be received by Dec. 1, 2022.

Members of the 2022 Joann Sweetland Lum Memorial Grant Jury are: Chair Gregory Lum, Mary Lum, Janet Sweetland Liscio, Laura Haverkamp, and Francisca Goldsmith.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or email, yalsa@ala.org.