You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
GoFundMe page set up in memory of Kate Saunders to raise money for school libraries
A GoFundMe page has been set up in memory of author Kate Saunders to raise money for the School Library Association.
Saunders died last month aged 62. Her sister, Etta, set up the fundraiser after colleagues and friends asked where they could donate in her memory. So far it has raised £1,500.
Etta told The Bookseller: “I thought about what Kate would have liked, and she used to talk a lot about how much she admired school librarians and she used to say what a great job they did. She was shortlisted twice for the Yoto Carnegie Medal, and she particularly felt very proud of that because it’s an award judged by librarians and she always felt that the librarians knew what children liked, so she felt that it was almost like a vote from her readers.”
Etta said Kate “loved writing for children” and particularly enjoyed receiving letters from readers. “We’ve had so many warm messages from people who have re-read her books, or that their children had read them, we’ve had some really generous donations. It’s really heartwarming to see people’s engagement and to be donating to a charity that they know would have been close to Kate’s heart”.
The SLA said it was "deeply saddened” to hear of Kate’s passing, and described her as “an avid champion of school libraries”.
“We are immensely grateful for all her efforts in advocating for the important work that they’re home to” the SLA said, adding: “Many SLA members will know Kate from her Carnegie-shortlisted novels, Five Children on the Western Front (Faber, 2014) and The Land of Neverendings (Faber, 2019). It was always a delight to work with Kate over the years, which included welcoming her to our 2010 Weekend Course in Nottingham, where she hosted an inspiring drinks reception for her novel, Beswitched (Marion Lloyd Books), as well as celebrating the release of Five Children on the Western Front with a special blog from former SLA president Chris Riddell, in 2014.”
Donations can be made here.
