Dr. Carolyn S. Brodie, a professor in the School of Library and Information Science, has been awarded the 2008 Scholastic Library Publishing Award from the American Library Association. The annual honor is bestowed on a librarian whose extraordinary contributions to promoting access to books and encouraging a love of reading for lifelong learning exemplify outstanding achievement in the profession. The award will be presented July 1, during the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif., where Brodie will receive a $1000 prize donated by Scholastic Library Publishing.

Brodie has devoted her career to children's literature and youth librarianship. She has been on the faculty at Kent State’s School of Library and Information Science since 1989 and received the 2005 Kent State University Distinguished Teaching Award. 

Her accomplishments related to Kent State University include: creating the Reinberger Children's Library Center, which consists of a state-of-the-art classroom and videoconferencing facilities; obtaining the Marantz Picture Book Collection, which comprises more than 21,000 donated picture books; and co-directing the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth since 1989. In addition, Brodie has been responsible for more than 15 grants, totaling more than $5 million, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and other funding sources.

Brodie also chairs or serves on a variety of committees with the American Library Association and Association for Library Services to Children, including the Newbery, Caldecott and Notable Children's Books committees, the ALSC Board of Directors and the ALA Council. She is a prolific author on topics in youth librarianship and has presented hundreds of workshops on topics such as children’s and youth literature and information literacy.

Brodie holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in educational media from the University of Central Arkansas, a master's degree in library science from the George Peabody College for Teachers of Vanderbilt University, and a master's degree in educational administration and a doctorate in library and information science from Texas Woman’s University.

Dr. Richard Rubin, director, School of Library and Information Science at Kent State, says the recognition confirms the fact that over the past twenty years Brodie has worked to establish one of the most prestigious and well-known youth librarianship programs in the country at Kent State.

“For many years, Dr. Brodie was singularly responsible for the creation and development of the curriculum for our rich and varied youth librarianship program,” says Rubin. “Her astonishing list of accomplishments and dedication to our school and the welfare of youth, especially through the encouragement of reading, books and the library, is an example to us all.”

Kent State University’s School of Library and Information Science is the largest single master’s program at the university. The school is ranked 19th nationally by U.S. News and World Report and is the third largest master’s program in library and information science in the country, with more than 600 students. It is the only accredited master’s program of its kind in Ohio. Classes are offered at the Kent campus, at various distance learning sites throughout the state including Columbus, and online.

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