Shawna Lindner, Youth Librarian at the Kearney Public Library, has been named the Mad Hatter Youth Services Award winner for 2009.
The School, Children’s and Young People’s section of the Nebraska Library Association, Duane Munson, and Child’s World sponsor this award. The award recognized a librarian who has demonstrated outstanding service to children through innovative programming, service to the community, and professional contributions to the field of librarianship.
Lindner is dedicated to her profession and to providing library services to children of all ages. When asked about Shawna, Matt Williams, Director of the Kearney Public Library said that “Shawna has a magical ability to connect children and parents with just the right book. To me, the look of delight I see on children’s faces during a story hour says it all.”
In addition to the Summer Reading Program, Shawna has developed for Kearney Public Library the Paws to Read Program, which allows reluctant readers to practice reading to therapy dogs and cats, the Teen Advisory Group (TAG), Libraries Are Fun (LAF), and after school and home school series of programs. She has served on the Nebraska Library Commission Youth Advisory Board and was one of the first participants of the Nebraska Library Leadership Institute.
Shawna supports the Kearney Public Schools, collaborating with media specialists and teachers in the district to promote literacy through reading programs and by starting a Golden Sower Club. Judy Henning, Director of Media Services for Kearney Public Schools said, “She is a wonderful advocate for library youth programs and does what it takes to make sure all libraries are providing the support necessary to meet the needs of Nebraska youth.”