ALA launches lifetime achievement award recognizing African Americans' contributions to literature for youth

A new award from the American Library Association recognizes outstanding African-American authors, illustrators or author/illustrators and practitioners for lasting and significant contributions to youth or young adult literature. The inaugural Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement will be announced at the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston, as part of the Youth Media Awards press conference on Monday, January 18. The award will be presented during the Coretta Scott King Awards Breakfast at the ALA Annual Conference the following summer. The winner will receive a plaque and a $1,500 cash reward