SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Book Discussion
  • Heavy Medal Mock
  • Process

January 21, 2009 by Nina Lindsay

Bon Voyage

January 21, 2009 by Nina Lindsay   Leave a Comment

What a pleasure to be packing lightly for ALA Midwinter.

Award committee members are probably shuffling books right now, trying to figure out exactly which ones they really need to bring with them. When I was on the committee my books were ruffled and riffled with different colored post-its, and leaving any of them behind felt treacherous. I checked two bags that conference, mostly filled with books and papers (a tip: use two smaller suitcases rather than one big one, and give yourself extra time at check-in to shuffle contents, so that you can get both suitcases in under the 50 lb limit!)

Committee members have been waiting more than two years (for those who stood for election) for this weekend. Like standing for a exam, there’s not too much else they can do to prepare at this point except to try to eat and sleep well.  With the exuberance of Obama’s inauguration swirling around them, they’ve carved out space in their mind and energy to hold their judgments about each of dozens of books…judgments that they’ve formed as sturdily and intricately as possible, and yet which will take on their most dramatic changes through the hours of discussion this weekend.  Selecting a Newbery or Caldecott or other award winner is a craft.  The year long preparation–which each of fifteen people may feel, during that year, is the true selection–is actually the groundwork and the practice for the collaborative creation that they’ll undertake this weekend.  It’s because of that preparation that we trust the fifteen to the task, and that we will applaud them at the press conference Monday.  Their work is done, their work is beginning.  See you all on Monday.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Nina Lindsay

Nina Lindsay is the Children's Services Coordinator at the Oakland Public Library, CA. She chaired the 2008 Newbery Committee, and served on the 2004 and 1998 committees. You can reach her at ninalindsay@gmail.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

June 2022

Mock Newbery Update - Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Nina Lindsay

January 2022

THE FINAL FIVE: Heavy Medal Mock Newbery 2022 Contenders

by Nina Lindsay

December 2021

Last hours to submit your opinions and applications!

by Nina Lindsay

January 2021

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: SHOW ME A SIGN by Ann Clare LeZotte

by Nina Lindsay

January 2021

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: PRAIRIE LOTUS by Linda Sue Park

by Nina Lindsay

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

The Yarn LIVE at ALA 2022!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Shining A Light Cover Reveal: A Talk with Author Veeda Bybee About the Trick With Collected Biographies

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #331 | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Post-It Note Reviews: Graphic novels, picture books, and more!

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

2021 Youth Media Awards Winners

A Grateful Michaela Goade Makes Caldecott History

Ringing in the Newbery (and Caldecott): An awards-trivia smackdown with Betsy Bird and Travis Jonker

Children’s Publishing World Reacts to Michaela Goade's History-Making Caldecott Medal, Rest of the YMA Winners

SLJ's Reviews of the 2020 National Book Award Finalists

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Other Mock Newbery Sites

    • Anderson’s Bookshops
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Reads Mock Newbery
    • Northport-East Northport PL
    • Rhode Island OLIS
  • Resources

    • Jen J's Starred Reviews Spreadsheet
    • Newbery Manual
    • Newbery Medal & Honor Books
    • Newbery Terms & Criteria
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2022


    COPYRIGHT © 2022