NCBLA Origins
Books and art, teachers and librarians, saved her life, NCBLA founder and president Mary Brigid Barrett openly acknowledges. And it is that personal experience, the knowledge that books, story, and art transform the lives of children that is the driving force behind the NCBLA. Over the course of several years working in many schools with students, teachers, and parents as a guest writer and artist, it became increasingly obvious to Barrett that the educational opportunities and book access she had as a young person growing up on the west side of Cleveland no longer existed for many kids. Being a person who cannot sit still for more than a minute, she decided to do something about it, so she called the three people in the world of children’s books she had come to cherish and respect most, her mentors and friends — Natalie Babbitt, David Macaulay, and Katherine Paterson.
The idea for the NCBLA began to take shape during those frequent phone conversations. Writers and illustrators of young people’s books have been successfully getting kids to read for decades, yet no one had ever asked them their thoughts on how to connect kids to books, especially their thoughts on building those emotional and creative connections that turn young people into lifelong readers. Young people’s authors and illustrators occupy a central and unique position in the worlds of children’s literacy, libraries, publishing, art, and education. It is authors and illustrators who work with and have access to everyone — kids, parents, teachers, librarians, academics, publishers, and literacy advocates. So why not harness whatever influence authors and illustrators have, generate energy and fresh ideas, and work with the greater literacy, literature, and library community to make kids and their education needs a true priority on our nation’s agenda?
Barrett understood the power of citizen activism from her own personal experiences working as an advocate for children and education. And the NCBLA’s journey from small town Franklin, Massachusetts, where the first official meeting of the NCBLA was held at her kitchen table, bears witness to the power of “ordinary” citizens acting out of passion — for the fledgling NCBLA’s first two professional appointments were with the Library of Congress and First Lady Hillary Clinton’s Chief of Staff, Melanne Verveer — a leap of fortune and faith “that could only happen in America.”
Great ideas and palpable enthusiasm are contagious. The original NCBLA gang of four was soon joined by authors Patricia MacLachlan and Patricia and Fredrick McKissack. Children’s literature expert Stephanie Loer added critical depth to the NCBLA crew. And to make sure their financial feet were firmly planted on the ground, Sarah T. Truslow came on board as treasurer. Author Ann Martin awarded the NCBLA its first substantive funding. And Carol Greenwald, Director of Development for Children’s Programming at WGBH, PBS Boston, joined the NCBLA Board bringing her expertise in business and media. Early on, three knights in shining armor — Louis Laste, Director of Community Services at Verizon Information Services; Jeffrey Lewis, President of the Heinz Family Philanthropies; and Grant Oliphant, Director of Planning and Communications at the Heinz Endowments — decided to invest in the NCBLA. They gave of their personal time, bringing not only financial support, but also enthusiasm, experience, and wisdom. The NCBLA was launched!
Barrett is pleased to report that the ranks of the NCBLA Board of Directors have now grown to include authors: M.T. Anderson, Susan Cooper, and Gregory Maguire, as well as author/illustrator Steven Kellogg. She also notes that a number of people have given freely of their time to the NCBLA, offering valuable encouragement and advice: John Cole and his entire staff at the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress; writer and political consultant Thomas LaFauci; publisher Karen Lotz; historian David McCullough; librarian Maria Salvadore; Reading is Fundamental President and CEO, Carol Rasco; literacy advocate Lynda Johnson Robb; National Council of Families and Television Director Tricia McLeod Robin; librarian Susan Roman; and retired publisher Craig Virden.
NCBLA’s journey began because of Mary Brigid Barrett’s passionate belief in the transformative power of art and literature in the lives of the young people, but the step from dream to reality could not have transpired without the extraordinary help of the NCBLA Board of Directors, the staff, and many friends, colleagues, and professionals who share the same goals and beliefs.
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