New Librarians’ Choice Award Announced

The judges of this year’s LIANZA Children’s Book Awards are inviting librarians from across the country to vote for their favourite finalist.

For the first time in the awards’ history, a Librarians’ Choice award has been introduced.

Every member of the Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) will be eligible to select a favourite book from the finalists across all five awards via an online survey.

 The author or illustrator of the winning book will be awarded the Librarians’ Choice medal, and their books marked with a medal sticker.

The survey will run from June 1, when the judges announce their selection from the 110 New Zealand books submitted for the awards.

Pene Walsh, convenor of judges for the Children’s Book Awards, says many public libraries already run in-house voting as it creates interest in the awards and gives staff the knowledge of a handful of recent NZ children’s books across the different categories that they can then recommend to borrowers.

“Librarians all over the country in public and school libraries know what children like to read – after all it is what we do – so let’s see if they agree with the judges.”

“Authors tend to have had a love of libraries from a young age. To present a special medal that clearly says this is New Zealand  librarians’ favourite children’s book this year, is our koha back to a great Kiwi illustrator or writer.”

LIANZA Children’s Book Awards Key Dates

Friday 1 June 2012                           Finalists announced

Monday 6 August 2012                  Winners announced.

Awards Ceremony: Caffe L’Affare, 27 College St, Wellington

Judges

Pene Walsh, (Convenor), Library Manager for Gisborne District.

Colleen Shipley, Librarian at Marlborough Girls’ College.

Kathy Aloniu, Librarian at Dunedin City Libraries.

Alice Heather, (Panel Convenor for the Te Kura Pounamu award), Māori Advisor for School Services at the National Library in Auckland and social studies teacher at the Māori immersion unit, Ngā Puna o Waiorea, Western Springs College.

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

LIANZA Esther Glen Award - Junior Fiction

For the most distinguished contribution to literature for children aged 0-15.

LIANZA Russell Clark Award – Illustration

For the most distinguished illustrations in a children's book.

LIANZA Young Adult Fiction Award

Recognises the distinguished contribution to literature for children and young adults aged 13 years and above.

LIANZA Elsie Locke Award - Non Fiction

For a work that is considered to be a distinguished contribution to non-fiction for young people.

Te Kura Pounamu Award – Te Reo Maori

Awarded to the author of a work, written in Te Reo Māori, which makes a distinguished contribution to literature for children or young people.

Librarians’ Choice Award

Awarded to the most popular finalist across all awards, as judged by professional librarians of LIANZA.