The Bookseller, a weekly business magazine for the book industry, is planning to publish a 'Libraries of the Year' issue in July 2018. It is working with the Reading Agency to celebrate libraries that are reaching new and reluctant readers, and which are a vital resource in their communities.
The judges want to see the imaginative ways in which libraries have reached out to users, how they have made the most of financial resources and how individual librarians have contributed to their library’s success.
The special issue of the magazine will feature interviews with librarians and detailed case studies of how libraries are benefiting their communities.
The awards are open to public libraries, library authorities, schools, prison, specialist and academic libraries. The first phase of the award process requires short submissions of no more than 300 words.
Written submissions should include:
- Evidence of innovations that have improved the public experience of the library, such as author visits, reading schemes, children’s events, homework clubs, working with local festivals or other outreach services.
- Evidence of imaginative book purchasing, selection or presentation be that around national initiatives – e.g. The British Book Awards’ Books of the Year, Quick Reads, Man Booker Prize – or local community interests
- Evidence of year-on-year performance measures – number of book issues, library visits and library users.
Read more about the competition here.