Book award selection committee chair retires

A committee of librarians, educators and authors which selects nominees for a statewide children’s literature award will have a new chairperson for the first time in ten years. Sharon Sharpe of Junction City announced her retirement as chair of the selection committee for the William Allen White Children’s Book Awards program following the conclusion of the most recent awards ceremony here in early October.

“It has been a privilege to chair the selection committee,” said Sharpe. “I believe the William Allen White Children’s Book Award program is the best state award program in the nation.”

Sharpe served on the selection committee for four years before she became its chairperson. “Unlike most other state book award programs, the William Allen White Award’s focus is about bringing children, books, and authors together. I’m proud to have been a part of its history,” Sharpe concluded.

A native of San Antonio, Tex., Sharpe earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A & M University. She attended Kansas State University for her library endorsement and her building and district administrative certifications.

During her teaching career, Sharpe taught fourth, fifth and sixth graders in Kansas and Texas. After moving to Kansas, she worked six years as an elementary library media specialist and served as coordinator of library media services for the Geary County Unified School District in Junction City for 19 years, retiring in 2005.

As a crusader for improving school library services in Kansas, Sharpe served on several state committees and made numerous presentations. She taught school library graduate classes for Fort Hays State University, and helped 18 teachers receive library media certification. Ten of those teachers received master’s degrees, and four earned national board certification.

Sharpe is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Kansas School Library Association, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the American Library Association. She is the chairperson of the Geary Community Hospital Advisory Board, past president of the Friends of the Library, and membership chair for Junction City Retired School Personnel.

The William Allen White Children’s Book Awards are decided by the votes of Kansas school children who read the books chosen by the selection committee. Each year, the committee nominates approximately a dozen books for children in each of two grade levels (3rd – 5th grades and 6th – 8th grades) to read. The winning books are featured at each year’s awards ceremony, and their authors are presented with appropriate recognition.

This year’s William Allen White Children’s Book Award winners were A Dog’s Life; The Autobiography of a Stray, by Ann M. Martin (3rd – 5th grade award) and Airball; My Life in Briefs, by L. D. Harkrader (6th – 8th grade award).

Beverley Buller of Newton will take over as chair of the selection committee for next year’s William Allen White Children’s Book Awards, to be presented in Emporia Oct. 10, 2009. Buller is in her 32nd year of teaching in USD 373 in Newton and is currently a school librarian and district library media coordinator.  She served seven years on the White Awards selection committee, the past year as vice-chairman. She is the author of a children’s biography of the award program’s namesake, From Emporia: the Story of William Allen White, selected as a 2008 Kansas Notable Book.

Last Updated November 5, 2008>