2008 MN Book Award begins – get involved

Dear Minnesota Librarian,

I am excited to announce that things are gearing up for the kick-off of the 20^th annual Minnesota Book Awards. 

On September 4, 2007, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library will begin accepting nominations for books published by Minnesota authors in 2007.  We will be accepting nominations for books in these eight award categories:  Children’s Literature, General Nonfiction, Genre Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Minnesota Nonfiction, Novel & Short Story, Poetry, and Young Adult Literature.

In addition to preparing for nominations, we are also beginning recruitment of volunteer judges to serve on the preliminary round judging panels.  Each of our eight panels will have three judges, and qualified people new to the judging process are encouraged to apply as are experienced judges.  We are targeting librarians and booksellers in our preliminary round recruitment.

Librarians from throughout the state are encouraged to apply.  I have attached the preliminary round judge position description and the application form as both a PDF and Word document.  The preliminary round judges will meet the afternoon of Saturday, January 26, 2008 at Open Book, the home of The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, to select the four finalists in their category.  Only people who are available on January 26 should apply for a preliminary round position.  The call for final round judges will go out later this fall.

The deadline for applications is Friday, September 14.  To learn more about the Minnesota Book Awards, please visit http://www.thefriends.org/.  Questions about the judging opportunity can be directed to me at mnbookawards@thefriends.org or 651-366-6497.

I hope the opportunity to be part of the Minnesota Book Awards judging process is of interest to you.  Thank you for considering the invitation to apply for this important position, helping to honor and celebrate the very best by Minnesota authors.

Warmly,

Ann

Ann Nelson

Minnesota Book Awards Coordinator
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1055

Direct Phone Number:  651/366-6497
Main Office Number:  651/222-3242   

Fax:  651/222-1988
mnbookawards@thefriends.org

http://www.thefriends.org/

The Minnesota Book Awards is a Capital City project, led by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Mayor’s Office of the City of Saint Paul.  Outreach partners include the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA), the Minnesota Library Association (MLA), and Minnesota Department of Education – State Library Services.

 Ann Nelson
Minnesota Book Awards Coordinator
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1055Direct Phone Number:  651/366-6497
Main Office Number:  651/222-3242    Fax:  651/222-1988
mnbookawards@thefriends.orgwww.thefriends.org 

The Minnesota Book Awards is a Capital City project, led by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Mayor’s Office of the City of Saint Paul.  Outreach partners include the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA), the Minnesota Library Association (MLA), and Minnesota Department of Education – State Library Services. 

KIDS COUNT

KIDS COUNT
On July 25, 2007, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 18th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children.

Evy Nordley Award – Mn Assoc of Library Friends

Applications are due Friday, August 24, 2007

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Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF)

Evy Nordley Award for Best Project by Friends

To reinforce and publicize the importance of Friends of the Library projects,
the MALF Board will offer an award for achievement in Friends support for
libraries. Award criteria and guidelines are available at http://www.malf.info <http://www.malf.info/> .
The award includes $250 to the winning organization plus a recognition plaque.
 
Selected by a judging committee, the finalists will be asked to give a brief presentation on Thursday, October 25 at the 2007 Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference in Mankato, MN.  These presentations will describe the design, development and impact of their Friends effort. MALF hopes that all Friends organizations will participate in this effort to recognize, share, learn from, and reward effective Friends of Libraries activities.

2007 Best Project by Library Friends
Award Criteria and Application Guidelines
 
Who May Apply:
Friends of the Library organizations that are current members
of the Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) may
apply. Application and payment for new or renewed membership
in MALF will be accepted with an award entry form. The award
will be made to a Friends organization rather than to an
Individual.
 
What May be Submitted:
1.    Any Friends-supported project will be considered. Examples
include a brochure or publication, a service, an event, a fundraiser,
newsletter, Web-page, or campaign.
2.    Efforts which were jointly sponsored or developed by the
library or with other groups, such as local businesses and
agencies, are eligible, as are projects which received assistance
from other agencies. As long as the library or Friends of the
Library was the primary benefactor, the submission is eligible.
3.    The project must have been implemented after January 1,
2006.
 
How to Apply:
Friends of the Library may submit more than one entry. For
each entry, fill out the entry form or a facsimile. Enclose a
sample(s) with your entry. Photographs may document an item
or event. Entries must be received by Friday, August 24, 2007.
 
Entries Should Be Mailed To:        
Minnesota Association of Library Friends
Best Project by Friends Award Committee
1619 Dayton Avenue Suite 314
Saint Paul, MN 55104

How Entries Will Be Judged:
In August, judges will evaluate each project’s Impact in support of libraries, Outcome or results, Objectives, Planning Process, Participants, Cost Effectiveness, Publicity, Evaluation Method, Funding Source, and ability to reach Target Audience. Judges will select an award winner and finalists.

Award Finalists:
At the Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference on Thursday, October 25 in Mankato, MN, the award finalists will be expected to make a brief presentation about their project, addressing the award criteria.    
 
For information, contact:
Barb Byers, Minnesota Association of Library Friends, 651-227-0845, 651-235-0845 (mobile), 883 Fairmount Av., St. Paul, MN 55105, barbarabyers@comcast.net.