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Page 4 • Cognotes 2014 Annual Conference Highlights

ALA Announces Winner of the First-ever Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity

Laurence Copel, youth outreach librarian and founder of the Lower Ninth Ward Street Library, New Orleans, is the first recipient of the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced With Adversity. Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, presented Copel with the prize on June 29 during the ALA President's Program.

“Copel is recognized for her extraordinary efforts to provide books to young readers of the Ninth Ward,” said ALA President Barbara K. Stripling. “Copel is a brilliant example of how librarians can serve as change agents. Her leadership and commitment show the vital role that librarians and libraries play in energizing and engaging the communities that they serve.”

Copel, who moved from New York City to New Orleans in 2010, saw a need to provide age-appropriate books to neighborhood youth. Known to the children in the Lower Ninth Ward as the “Book Lady,” Copel opened a library in her home through self-funding and small donations while living on $350 a week. She also converted her bicycle to a mobile book carrier allowing her to reach children and families that could not travel to her home.

In her efforts to serve her young readers she has had to overcome much adversity, including a burglary and significant weather damage to her home that destroyed many of the books she planned to give to children, limited financial resources, and empty promises of assistance from local politicians. Despite local challenges, Copel has provided more than 7,000 books to children in need.

“What especially struck me is that Copel is dealing not just with an adverse incident, but with continuing pervasive adversity,” said Award Chair Eric Suess. “She has dedicated so much of her time and personal resources, as well as her tremendous affection for the children of the Ninth Ward.”

The Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced With Adversity was established in 2014 by ALA in partnership with Daniel Handler, AKA Lemony Snicket. The prize, which is co-administered by ALA's Governance Office and the Office for Intellectual Freedom, annually recognizes and honors a librarian who has faced adversity with integrity and dignity intact.

Cognotes

ISSN: 0738-4319
Volume 2014 Issue X

Senior Reporter
Brad Martin
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