Gene Luen Yang (http://geneyang.com) is the 2017 recipient of the St. Katharine Drexel Award. Yang is a well-known cartoonist and graphic novelist, whose 2006 American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel nominated for a National Book Award, and the first ALA Printz Award winner. Since then, his books have been nominated for and won numerous other honors and awards.

Yang is also a Catholic, and his many works are several with Catholic themes. In The Monkey King, Yang replaces Buddha, from the original story, with a Christian deity. The Rosary Comic Book (Pauline Books & Media, 2003) is a graphic novel depicting the stories behind the mysteries of the rosary.

Longtime CLA member and volunteer, Father Eugene “Gene” Rooney died June 22, 2016 at Manresa Jesuit Community, Merion Station, Pa. Born November 29, 1926, he entered the Jesuits in 1944, and was ordained a priest in 1957.

Father Rooney’s ministry and career as teacher, librarian, chaplain and retreat director oscillated between Philadelphia, Scranton, Washington and Baltimore in the U.S. and various cities in Chile and Uruguay in South America.

It was during his time as librarian and coordinator of communications at Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University (1986-1994) that Father Rooney was a volunteer indexer for The Catholic Periodical and Literature Index. He primarily indexed Vatican serials and documents, most of which were in Latin. Upon his 1994 assignment to South America, he persuaded his successor at Woodstock to continue indexing for CPLI.

In addition to CPLI indexing, Father Rooney was a published author in Catholic Library World.

Known to his friends as “Gene” and to his family as “Bud” his email communications from Chile would keep friends and family informed about his travels to Jesuit libraries and archives where he’d serve as consultant. He was also responsible for planning repairs to a Jesuit archives following one of the Chilean earthquakes. Father Rooney’s Irish humor was evident in his communications, which usually included a witty cartoon character or two.

A faithful CLA member, Father Rooney’s membership payment arrived each year, even from South America. To reunite with family and CLA colleagues, he tried to plan his home visits to coincide with the year the NCEA/CLA convention would be held in Baltimore. In 2007 he offered a reflection during CLA’s Inaugural Prayer Breakfast.

The Catholic Library Association is excited to announce Dr. Massimo Faggioli as the 2017 St. Jerome Award Recipient. A relatively young scholar, Dr. Faggioli, currently a Professor at Villanova University, has already contributed much to Catholic theology. A Church historian, he had dedicated his work to placing major Church figures, movements, and events in their proper historical context. His recent work focuses on the relationship between Catholics and politics and he was the founding Director of the Institute for Catholicism and Citizenship at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. The Award will be presented to Faggioli at the 2017 CLA Convention in conjunction with the National Catholic Educational Association Convention and Expo being held April 18-20, 2017 in St. Louis, MO.

The Catholic Library Association is excited to announce Fr. Patrick Martin as the 2017 Aggiornamento Award Recipient. Father Patrick A. Martin is a missionary priest who has been traveling the world for 30 years, spreading the word about human suffering. He was born in Maine, the 17th in a family of 22 children. He was struck by meningitis at the age of nine, losing his sight, his memory, and his ability to walk. With a lot of help, he relearned what he had lost and regained the use of his legs, but still only has pinpoint vision. In 1969 he first learned of the resources that were available for blind people. He went to the library and started reading recorded books. Eventually he earned a degree in English Literature and a Master’s Degree in Library Science. Father Pat now visits parishes all over the world and presents Parish Mission Programs, many of which are recorded live as they are given and are available to everyone on the internet. The Award will be presented to Fr. Martin at the 2017 CLA Convention in conjunction with the National Catholic Educational Association Convention and Expo being held April 18-20, 2017 in St. Louis, MO.

The Catholic Library Association is excited to announce David A. Adler as the recipient of the 2017 Regina Medal Award. David A. Adler David A. Adler has written over 200 fiction and nonfiction books for children and young adults. His book Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man won a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor, ALA Notable Book for Children, International Readers Association Teachers’ Choice, Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book, National Parenting Gold Award and several state awards. In 2016 David Adler received the Geisel Award for his young readers book Don’t Throw It To Mo! The Award will be presented to Adler at the 2017 CLA Convention in conjunction with the National Catholic Educational Association Convention and Expo being held April 18-20, 2017 in St. Louis, MO.

The Catholic Library Association is excited to partner with the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) again for the 2017 Convention in St. Louis, MO - April 18-20, 2017! This is a great opportunity to network with other members and learn from the leaders in the field. Therefore, be sure to mark the dates!

We hope to get the CLA Convention schedule posted soon. Thank you to all that submitted their proposals! If you are still thinking about attending – check out our photos from last year's Convention here!

We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis!

The Catholic Library Association is saddened to learn of the passing of Brother Emmett Corry, O.S.F. last year. He provided leadership of CLA as President from 1989-1991. More information on his life and passing can be found here.

The John Brubaker Award for 2015 has been given to Sandra Collins for her article, A Wandering Aramean: ATLA and the Scholar of Eastern Christianity, which appeared in the September 2014 (vol. 85, no. 1) issue of Catholic Library World.

Amy Welborn is the author of nineteen books and many articles on Catholic topics. One of her more popular titles is Books of Saints/Books of Heroes. Acclaim for her Prove It series (God, Jesus, Prayer, and Church) is that she meets teens on their level and then invites them to a higher level of understanding. Amy has taught high school and was a Parish Director of Religious Education.

More than ever before, we at the Catholic Library Association are looking to make your experience with our organization more productive and beneficial. Since 1921, the organization has grown into an international presence, and continues to advocate for those who share their talents and collaborate in constructive projects. As we approach our 95th year, we are in the midst of an important campaign to bolster membership and awareness on a more meaningful scale. Our efforts are focused on the central theme: “Building the future of CLA …together.” This focus calls for these simple yet potent means of engagement: Reach Out. Connect. Recruit.

In short, we need YOU! We are counting on the strength of our members and the power of community to make CLA survive, thrive, and serve.

Word-of-mouth referrals are the most effective membership recruitment channel, and we are asking for your help in recruiting new members.

As promised, here are the resources you can use to reach out to potential members:

In the attachments below you will find a letter and membership brochure in pdf format that you can copy and paste into your personal email to friends, colleagues, co-workers, and classmates

The CLA office will correspond with anyone seeking information or completing the online membership form, which now includes a section where referring members can be identified.

CLA Publicity and Marketing Committee
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 225-408-4417

Attachments:

Membership Campaign Letter

Membership Brochure