Pass It On! Scholars Award

Evalyn Harper, University of Iowa (2023)

Evalyn Harper is honored to be recognized as this year’s PIO! Scholar. Born and raised in Stillwater, Oklahoma, she followed her lifelong love of storytelling to the University of Iowa, where she’s pursuing her BA in English and creative writing and a certificate in Event Management. She currently serves as both President of The English Society and Event Coordinator for earthwords literary magazine, two roles that have helped her learn how to combine her passions for literature, events, and community building in new and exciting ways. After graduating next May, she plans to pursue her Masters in Library and Information Science with an emphasis in youth services.

She’d like to thank Melissa Albert for helping her find her voice, Paula Long and Heather Spangler for their incredible mentorship, Daniel Khalastchi for wise words and enthusiasm about auditoriums, and the staff of the Rita Benton Music Library for trusting her with the keys. She’d also like to thank her friends Kameryn, Olivia, Jacob, and Sonia for dealing with her habit of going “there’s a kids song for that.” And, of course, the biggest thanks of all goes to her parents, longtime CMN members Monty and Lisa Harper, for a lifetime of encouraging her dreams both big and small.

Evalyn's Essay:

"A Place to Grow"

I wasn’t so much drawn to the Children’s Music Network as I was born into it. That’s definitely dramatic of me to say, but it feels like that sometimes. My parents, CMN members Monty and Lisa Harper, brought me to my first national conference when I was six months old. I was in Pre-K the first time I performed at a Round Robin. CMN, and children’s music in general, was a constant in my childhood. I know that music has a powerful positive effect on the lives of children because I’ve watched my father bring joy to children and families at his shows for my entire life.

Growing up with a children’s musician for a father didn’t just instill a love of music in me, it also introduced me to the power of the library. Every summer we tour libraries across the country as part of their summer reading programs. Although I love helping out with the show, demonstrating sign language for songs like The Cat Came Back and manning the CD sales table, it’s the librarians I’ve met and their dedication to their communities that really inspired me. I’m currently pursuing my BA in English and creative writing with a certificate in Event Management. After I graduate, I’m planning to pursue my MA in Library and Information science with a specialization in youth services. Ultimately, I hope to combine my events experience with my MLIS to get a position in youth programming with a public library system.

As I’m sure you all know, libraries aren’t just about books. Library programming like summer reading provides important opportunities for children to learn and grow. In my opinion, music is one of the most important outlets for that growth. Children find solace in songs. Much like a library, music is a familiar place that children can return to time and time again. I’ve seen first hand the positive impact music can have on children, giving them an outlet for creativity and connection by encouraging the, as my father puts it, the “wacky, witty, and way out.” That’s why, as a youth services librarian, one of my main goals would be to provide quality musical programming to all of the patrons under my care. I would especially love to one day work with organizations like CMN, CLSP, and the ALA to make it even easier for other librarians to do the same, because every child deserves to have the positive power of music in their lives.