MARBLEHEAD — Abbot Public Library’s own Kimberly Grad will serve on the 2026 Randolph Caldecott Award Selection Committee under the direction of the American Library Association (ALA).
Grad, who moved to Massachusetts from New York in 2021, is the Director of Abbot Public Library. During her time in New York, Grad specialized in youth services and administration at the Brooklyn Public Library.
While in New York, Grad obtained her bachelor of arts degree in English literature from the State University of New York and her master’s in library science from Queens College Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. Between her education and experience, Grad’s resume continues to reveal her expertise within the library community.
While Grad will be new to the committee, this will not be her first time working with the ALA. Over the last 17 years, she has served in leadership roles with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the ALA. In 2022, Grad even held a position on the Newbery Award Selection Committee, which recognizes the author of a distinguished children’s book published the prior year.
The ALA is a voice for both the libraries and those who depend on them across the United States. Its mission is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of libraries to enhance learning and allow access to information for all. As the oldest and largest library association worldwide, ALA boasts a membership of nearly 50,000 members.
Within the ALA is the ALSC, which specifically targets the library service to children and dedicates resources to ensure communities continue to build healthy, successful futures for all children. There are about 4,000 members of the ALSC, including librarians, children’s literature experts, publishers, and educators.
This will be Grad’s second time serving on an award committee that determines the creator most deserving of the prestigious award. The Randolph Caldecott Award is presented to the illustrator of the most distinguished American picture book for children from the previous year.
“It is such an honor to be chosen to serve on the committee as one of only 15 people in the entire country,” Grad said.
The meeting to vote on the rightful illustrator will take place in late January or early February. The 15 committee members will each choose their first place, second place, and third place illustrators, the winner of the award will be the nominee with 8 first place votes.
“I have seen first-hand the magic that happens when authors and illustrators collaborate to create stories that engage the wonder of young readers,” Grad said. “To be able to live in this world for an entire year is a dream come true.”