Judy

Ekblad

Judy Ekblad''s enthusiasm for books and dedication to children''s reading is reflected in more than 25-year career at the Elmhurst Public Library. Now Assistant Head of Young People''s Services, Ms. Ekblad has transformed library service to children in Elmhurst by increasing by six-fold the circulation of children''s materials and dramatically increasing the attendance at children''s programs. She has created three programs in particular that have been hugely successful with children: "Stories in the Park," an outdoor storytelling festival now in its 17th year; "Puppets on the Wilder Side," a dramatic puppet presentation offered four times a year at the Library; and her latest creation, the Elmhurst Literature Festival, a program that brought 28 Illinois authors and illustrators into classrooms at the 12 public schools in Elmhurst in 2000. The second Elmhurst Literature Festival, slated for 2003, has grown to become a citywide art festival that will take place in the schools and also in an additional dozen venues in the city. In her capacity as School Services Librarian, Ms. Ekblad works closely with school librarians in Elmhurst to disseminate books in classrooms and to organize Young Author''s Month, during which books written by Elmhurst children are available for checkout at the Elmhurst Public Library. She also makes special visits to Elmhurst schools to lead "booktalks" on topics ranging from the Holocaust to African folktales. Ms. Ekblad has also been a judge for an annual school storytelling competition and has taught children''s literature courses as local colleges.