WNBA Eastman Grant (for librarians)

The WNBA Eastman Grant was established to provide funds for librarians’ professional development.

History

The WNBA Eastman Grant was established in 1997 and honors Ann Heidbreder Eastman, who was a prominent member of both the publishing and library communities and a member of both WNBA and ALA until her death in 1993.

Ms. Eastman worked with numerous publishing houses, including MacMillan, Henry Holt, Knopf, and McGraw-Hill. She served as school and library consultant for Random House during a time of growing interest in the importance of good reading for children.

As an active WNBA member since 1955, she was instrumental in developing the WNBA Pannell Award, which is presented by WNBA to booksellers who have done an outstanding job of bringing children and books together. As an ALA member she worked with the Association of School Librarians and the Association of Library Service to Children and was president of the Library Administration and Management Association.

Eastman was president of the New York Chapter of WNBA and went on to serve as WNBA National president from 1976 to 1980. In 1986, for all her efforts in the publishing and library communities, and serving her lifelong career as a catalyst in bringing people together for the cause of the book, Ann Eastman was named the recipient of the WNBA Award. The Award is bestowed by the organization on a living American woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the world of books, and through books, to society.

Description

A motion was made and passed at the 2009 WNBA annual meeting that the focus of the WNBA Eastman Grant be changed to allocate one $500 grant annually to support library association professional development in a state in which WNBA has a chapter.

At the annual meeting, the members of the board will select a chapter. A library association in the state will be awarded a $500 grant. The national president will make contact and send a letter that includes: information about WNBA, about the local WNBA chapter(s), about Ann Heidbreder Eastman, and explain that the purpose of the grant is to support professional development or training, not for general operating expenses. A check will be sent by October 1st of that year.

The state library association receiving the grant will be asked to acknowledge WNBA's sponsorship on any professional development and training presented and send WNBA the program announcement.

No chapter’s state library association is eligible to receive a second grant until all of the WNBA chapter library associations have received the grant at least once.

Previous Recipients