The Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award

The Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award is a grant from the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), funded by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, that funds author or illustrator visits to libraries serving children who have not had the opportunity to meet a nationally recognized children's author or illustrator. Awards of up to ,000 cover costs associated with arranging and hosting the visit.

Applicants are evaluated on the reasons for the visit, suitability of facilities, administrative capability, and cooperation with other library types and community bookstores. The award is named in honor of Maureen Hayes.

Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award | Association for Library Service to Children Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award This award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, to bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators by funding up to $4000 for an author/illustrator visit to a library.

Current Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award Winner Past Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award Winners For tips on planning an author visit, please click here. ALSC's Professional Recognition and Scholarships Committee Manual Each application will be judged on the following: Reasons for the application.

The applicant seeks to provide a visit from an author/illustrator who will speak to children who have not had the opportunity to hear a nationally known author/illustrator. Reasons for applying could include: particular contribution; a special celebration, etc. Facilities. The appropriateness, both in terms of capacity and accessibility.

Administrative support. The organization and administrative capabilities of the person or group submitting an application evident in the enclosed budget, and partially manifested in the presentation of the application itself. Cooperation with other organizations.

The applicant must work cooperatively with other types of libraries (academic, public and school) and bookstores within the local community to provide the author/illustrator visit, thereby also providing a broader audience. The applicant must present the library's educational goals, as well as evidence of how those goals apply to the local community's educational goals.

The extent to which meaningful cooperation among various local or area groups would suggest an ability to share responsibilities of personnel, time, and money needed to cover local expenses. Author/Illustrator visit visibility. Emphasis on the presentation as a distinctive event publicized to and open to all potential attendees in the area is a priority.

Be a member of both ALA and the ALSC division to apply Act as host for the author/illustrator visit, the date to be arranged at the mutual convenience of the artist/illustrator and the host institution The award covers only the honorarium and travel expense to and from the host city.

The host is responsible for making travel arrangements that are mutually agreed upon by the host and the author/illustrator, and for paying the up front travel costs.

Maximum award is $4,000 Host institution must arrange to pay for any reception, dinner, or other hospitality honoring the speaker following the visit and to pay for all local lodging, means, etc. of the lecturer Prepare and distribute publicity If applicable, autographing and sale of books may be arranged with the publisher by the host institution.

Any other programs/events (other than those promoting the visit) must be arranged with the author/illustrator's publisher(s) or agent, and must be arranged with the author/illustrator's knowledge and permission, and must be funded separately Applications for the 2026 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award are now closed. They will reopen for 2027 in the spring of 2027.

Please do not fill out the application until you have all the necessary materials to complete your application. Please see here for an example itemized budget. If you have questions about your application, please reach out to the co-chairs of the ALSC Program and Services Recognition committee, Tammie Benham ( tbenham@sekls.

org ) and Lauren Brandstetter ( lauren. brandstetter@kentonlibrary. org ).