Library Association launches new Young Adult Fiction Award

LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, has introduced a new category to the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards to recognise Young Adult’s literature separately from Junior Fiction.

The new LIANZA Young Adult Fiction Award recognises the distinguished contribution to literature for children and young adults aged 13 years and above, by an author who is a citizen or resident of New Zealand.

The winner of the new award will receive a medal along with a prize pack of children’s books to be donated to a library of the winner’s choice.

The LIANZA Children’s Book Awards celebrate excellence in children’s books and the contribution New Zealand children’s authors and illustrators have made to building national identity and cultural heritage.

These unique awards are judged by a panel of librarians and showcase the expertise of the library and information profession.

The awards include New Zealand's longest-running book award the LIANZA Esther Glen Award for junior fiction, The Russell Clark Award for illustration, the Elsie Locke Award for non-fiction and te Kura Pounamu for contributions to children’s literature in te reo Maori.

Submissions have now opened for the awards and details are available on the LIANZA website: http://www.lianza.org.nz/events/childrensbookawards/index.html

To be eligible for the 2010 awards, books must have first been published in New Zealand between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2009 and the authors or illustrators must be New Zealand citizens or residents.

Finalists for the awards will be announced on 1^st June 2010 and the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Wellington on Monday 16^th August as part of the Library Week 2010 celebrations.

The LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2010 are supported by Wheelers Books and Caffe L’affare.

For further information, please contact:

Wendy Walker, LIANZA Children’s Book Awards Coordinator, wendy@lianza.org.nz ph 04 473 5834