The Bechtel Fellowship is designed to allow qualified children’s librarians to spend a month or more reading and studying at the , a part of the George A. Smathers Libraries at the University of Florida, Gainesville. The Baldwin Library contains a special collection of 85,000 volumes of children’s literature published mostly before 1950. The fellowship is endowed in memory of Louise Seaman Bechtel and Ruth M. Baldwin and provides a stipend of $4,000.

Angell is the head of youth services at the . She will pursue the topic of school studies at the Baldwin Library, especially the degree to which school stories are a mirror of other publishing trends.

“Tales about school range from those that describe experiences very familiar to most children (such as books by Andrew Clements), to the many recent books about schools of magic,” said Angell. “This chance to spend a period of time thinking and writing about how children and schools connect will inform my work with children at my library by giving me a fresh perspective on this critical aspect of children’s lives.”

“The Special Collections and Bechtel Fellowship Committee was impressed by the wonderful applications received this year,” said Chair Ellen Hunter Ruffin. “We congratulate Allison and wish her the best of luck in her studies at the Baldwin Library.”

ALSC, a division of the , is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at

The 2012 ALSC Special Collections and Bechtel Fellowship Committee includes: Ellen Hunter Ruffin, chair, University of Southern Mississippi, Miss.; Christine A. Jenkins, University of Illinois; Marjorie Rosenthal, N.Y.; Dr. April Whatley Bedford, La.; Danielle Zynda Clark, N.C.; Mary G. Marshall, Addison (Ill.) Public Library; Elizabeth A. Poe, W.V.; Angela Leeper, University of Richmond, Va.; Charmette S. Kuhn-Kendrick, Cattachoochee Valley Regional Library, South Columbus Branch, Ga.; Jeanne C. Lamb, New York Public Library, Office of Children’s Services, N.Y.