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Newbery Medal
At the American Library Association Conference in June 1921,
during a discussion with children’s librarians, Frederic G.
Melcher, the founder of Children’s Book Week, suggested that the
librarians, as a group, could strongly influence children’s book
selection and distribution. He believed they should encourage
authors of outstanding ability to write more meaningful
children’s books. He also proposed that a medal be awarded each
year by the Children’s Librarian Section for the most
distinguished book for children written by a citizen or resident
of the United States and published during the preceding year. He
recommended that the medal be called the “John Newbery Medal” in
honor of the 18th Century bookseller who is credited with
recognizing children’s unique reading interests, and who sought
the authors to write for them. In 1922 the Executive Board of
the American Library Association accepted Mr. Melcher’s offer to
present the Newbery Medal and set in motion the procedures
necessary to select the first winning book.
The Michael L. Printz Award
for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for books that exemplify
literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a
Topeka, Kansas, school librarian who was a long-time active
member of the Young Adult Library Services Association.
Books are selected annually by an award committee that can also
name as many as four honor books. The award-winning book can be
fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or an anthology, and it can be a
work of joint authorship or editorship. The books must be
published between January 1 and December 31 of the preceding
year and be designated by its publisher as being either a young
adult book or one published for the age range that YALSA defines
as young adult, e.g. ages 12 through 18.
Coretta Scott
King Award for Authors
The Coretta Scott King Award is awarded annually to authors of
African descent whose distinguished books promote understanding
and appreciation of the “American Dream.” This award
commemorates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors
his widow, Coretta Scott King, for her courage in continuing his
work for peace and brotherhood.
(Follett Library Resource 2003) |