CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) announced Ingrid Abrams of the Brooklyn Public Library as its representative in the 2012 Emerging Leader program.

As a children’s librarian in Brooklyn, N.Y.,  Abrams makes a difference in the lives of users of her local branch library every day. A graduate of Queens College, she enjoys working with toddlers and does all of the children’s programming, outreach and collection development.

In her free time, she is also an active advocate for library services in New York. She has testified at the state capitol, participated in a 24-hour read-in and joined a librarian zombie walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, all in the past three years.

“We’re excited to honor Ingrid as the 2012 ALSC Emerging Leader,” said ALSC President Mary Fellows, “As a children’s librarian offering valuable services to the public, Ingrid is also deeply devoted to advocacy. We are sure that her energy and commitment to children’s library services will serve ALSC well.”

Abrams says that she was motivated to apply after getting advice from some of her co-workers in Brooklyn. “All of these librarians I respected and admired. Other librarians are so inspiring.”

As ALSC’s 2012 Emerging Leader, Abrams will attend the 2012 Midwinter Meeting in Dallas, as well as the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

“I’m eager to attend [ALA’s] Annual Conference,” she said, “and to meet some of the other Emerging Leaders.”

The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in workgroups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA's structure and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Emerging Leaders receive up to $1,000 each to participate in the Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, and each participant is expected to provide years of service to ALA or one of its units.

ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.

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