[LM_NET] HIT: Mock Newbery Committee

[Sandra Lingo <slingo47@FUSE.NET>]

In my original post, I asked for "behind the Newbery scenes" info.  Below there is 
a list of resources (mostly online), then quotes from LM_Net members.  Thanks to 
all who responded.

From a librarian who has a Mock Newbery Club: 
http://www.weedsport.org/webpages/msouthorn/index.cfm?subpage=5944  (PPT at the 
bottom of that page, listed as a file called "Newbery Award Overview."  Great 
website with lots of links!

Judy Freeman’s  experiences on the 2000 Newbery Committee in Books Kids Will Sit 
Still For 3; chapter entitled “The Blueberry Medal”

Link to article by a past Newbery member:
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/VALib/v48_n3/parr.html

Terms, criteria, and a list of current members:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
 


“Committee members are mostly public librarians with a connection to children's 
services, but there are usually a couple school librarians, maybe an academic 
librarian (probably manages a children's lit collection) or children't lit prof..  
This year the committee includes the editor of the Bulletin of the Center for 
Children's Books, which is a bit unusual, but not unheard of.”

“ a colleague of my wife was on the committee when Crispin was chosen. Nancy 
Johnson is an Eng prof at West. WA. U. who teaches children's lit courses but 
she also does outside consulting and has reviewed for journals and written 
books.” 

"The committee membership is not a secret. Some of the members are elected, 
others appointed. The discussions and deliberations of the committee are secret 
and the members cannot talk about what goes on in the meetings. There is usually 
a mix of people on the committee, they can be public librarians, school 
librarians, and even retired librarians. All are members of ALSC."

“The publishers send them just about every single book that will qualify. My 
mother served on the Newbery Committee years ago and we had UPS at the house 
almost every day delivering books. For the Newbery, at a certain point, I think 
the committee members get very good at judging a book relatively early on (they 
may not finish every book). But for the Caldecott, I think the committee reads 
every one. “

The committee members receive submissions from publishers all year long and keep in 
contact with each other via e-mails, they meet during the annual and 
mid-winter meetings. There are HUNDREDS of submissions every year and the 
members read each one. 

The deliberations are confidential, so you won't hear anything about how a 
committee narrowed the field down to the ultimate winner.  And the public cannot go 
and sit in the audience and listen to discussion (there is no audience)--like you 
can for the list committees (BBYA, Notables, Quick Picks, etc.)


History
In 1925 the work was put under the charge of a committee of Children's Section 
members that was comprised of: 
• The Section officers (president, vice president, past president, secretary, and 
treasurer, with the vice president serving as the Newbery Committee chair)
• The four members and chair of the Book Evaluation Committee (a forerunner of 
Notable Children's Books)
• The chairs of all Children's Section standing committees (Book Production, 
International, Membership, Professional Training, and Publicity)
• Three members-at-large who are elected by the Children's Section membership
• Five school librarians (the chair of the School Libraries Section and four 
appointed members from the School Librarians Section)
Because the Newbery Committee included the Section officers and Children's Section 
leaders, the committee had the power to change the terms and procedures. Today 
these sort of changes are not within the power of the Newbery Committee. They can 
only be made by the ALSC Board.


--
Sandra Lingo, Librarian
Delhi Middle School
5280 Foley Road
Cincinnati, Ohio   45238
slingo47@fuse.net

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