by Ann Perham

January is an exciting time in the world of libraries, for it brings the announcement of the awards for excellence in publishing for the previous year.

School librarians scramble to purchase those titles that they don’t have on their shelves, and eagerly await the delivery of the books with their beautiful medals on the front cover. These medals are excellent guides for our students (and faculty) in selecting books. And, they make for great displays.

So how about the books that you already have on your shelves, that don’t have the medals? Check out the ALA Online Store for a treasure trove of award seals. Think about purchasing enough to do your entire collection; this would be an excellent project for parent volunteers, or a community service activity for students. For a pack of 24 medals, the cost is $14.50. Another consideration is the variety pack for $136 that includes 14 award medals: Caldecott Gold and Silver, Newbery Gold and Silver, Coretta Scott King Bronze and Pewter, Pura Belpré Gold and Silver, Printz Gold and Silver, Sibert Gold and Silver, Edwards Award, and the Notable Book Seal.

While you’re considering the medals, take a look at the awards posters that ALA offers.   There are two posters are available for YA and Children’s awards. Instead of showing the winning titles for each year, they highlight the awards themselves. The YA poster, “Be an Award Winning Reader” includes: Alex Awards, Coretta Scott King Award, Edwards Award, Printz Award, Odyssey Award, Schneider Family Book Award, Stonewall Book Award, Morris Award, and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. The “Read Award-Winning Books with a Child” features: Batchelder Award, Pura Belpré Award, Caldecott Medal, Geisel Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Newbery Medal, Schneider Family Book Award, Sibert Informational Book Medal, Wilder Award, Stonewall Book Award, Odyssey Award. Best of all, these posters are UNDATED. They are a good buy for $16 each.

If you haven’t yet checked your collection for what award-winners you already own, here are some links to get  you started:

YALSA  

• Alex Awards
• Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
• Best Books for Young Adults
• Best Fiction for Young Adults
• Fabulous Films for Young Adults
• Great Graphic Novels for Teens
• Margaret A. Edwards Award
• Michael L. Printz Award
• YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
• Odyssey Award
• Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
• Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• William C. Morris YA Debut Award

ALSC   is another division of ALA that announces its awards in January:

• Newbery Medal
• Caldecott Medal
• Batchelder Award
• Pura Belpre Medal
• Carnegie Medal
• Geisel Award
• Odyssey Award
• Sibert Medal
• Wilder Medal
  
• Great Interactive Software for Kids
• Notable Children’s Books
• Notable Children’s Recordings
• Notable Children’s Videos

National Jewish Book Awards date back to 1948 and recognize outstanding books on Jewish topics for the year in sixteen categories. On the website of the Jewish Book Council read about the Award; and link to the complete list of winners for 2010.

GRAPHICS CREDITS:

ALA Online Store
YALSA website
ALSC website
Jewish Book Council website