150 YEARS STRONG

THE OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY BLOG

Discover the people, policies, and pivotal moments that shaped the ALA and the libraries we all rely on. Our anniversary blog is your behind-the-scenes look at the legacy we’re honoring and the future we’re building, with regular stories on how we’re celebrating.

Left: Effie Power with Newbery medal, Los Angeles, 1930. Right: Rachel Field and Milton J. Ferguson. Ferguson announced to Field that “Hitty” was chosen to receive the Newbery Medal. Los Angeles Conference, 1930.

Celebrating the Newbery: ‘Publicity of the Best Kind’

Publicity around the Newbery Medal has drummed up excitement amongst librarians, readers, and the public for the past century. Often this has meant events, press releases, newsletters, radio programming, television broadcasts, and newspaper and magazine articles. However, some publicity ideas were more daring than press conferences and radio programs.

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