On Sunday, June 26, 2022 during the 2022 ALAAnnual Conference in Washington, D.C., the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) honored BCALA member Tamela Chambers with the 2022 DEMCO /BCALAAward for Excellence in Librarianship. Chambers, who was recently elected to the BCALA Executive Board and has served as chair of the BCALA Public Libraries Committee, is a branch manager for the Chicago Public Library. She also serves as a book reviewer for School Library Journal.

Chambers received her MSLIS from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has over 20 years of experience working in school and public libraries. In addition, she holds a Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Technology from National Louis University. Tamela Chambers is an active BCALA member and has contributed to BCALA’s success through her work on the BCALA Best of the Best Booklists, the BCALA Summer Booklist, and the Reading is Grand Initiative.

Tamela Chambers’ other accomplishments include:

• BCALA Services to Children of African Descent Committee Member
• BCALA Children’s Literature Book Award Committee Member
• BCALA x GNCRT Black Literature Matters Committee Member
• Chicago State University MSLIS Advisory Board Member
• AASL/ALSC/YALSA Interdivisional Committee on School/Public Library Cooperation Member

Congratulations to Tamela Chambers for a job well done!!!

About the DEMCO/BCALAAward

The DEMCO/BCALAAward for Excellence in Librarianship is an annual award, which provides $500 and an engraved bronze statuette made possible by a grant from DEMCO, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin. This award is presented to the librarian who has made significant contributions in promoting the status of African Americans in the library profession. Specific contributions may include, but are not limited to, research and scholarship, recruitment, professional development, planning or implementation of programs, or advocacy (public relations). DEMCO also donates an additional $500.00 each year to assist with funding the E. J. Josey Scholarship Fund.

About the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA)

BCALA serves as an advocate for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services and resources to the nation’s African American community; and provides leadership for the recruitment and professional development of African American librarians