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NLA intends the Golden Sower Award to stand for diversity, intellectual freedom, personal choice, and inclusivity in children’s literature. NLA Board will be works with the Golden Sower Committee members to establish basic requirements and expectations for future Golden Sower readers.
SELECTION GROUP CRITERIA & GUIDELINES
The Golden Sower Award strives to select, highlight, and celebrate excellence in youth literature. By using professional knowledge, experience, and tools, Selection Group Members throughout the state of Nebraska will read and discuss eligible titles, recommend their top titles to the selection group, and vote for the nominees. Nominee lists are determined at the annual selection group meeting based on nominee list guidelines. Selection Group Member Criteria:
Involvement in the GSA Selection Group requires:
● Readers who may be active or retired librarians, library staff, teachers, paraeducators, youth program supervisors or other library or education professionals familiar with children’s literature as it relates to youth in their communities.
● Access to email and the Internet (for routine communication and attending virtual meetings).
● Access to the platform Goodreads, either via web browser or phone app, to share thoughts and opinions on books read. If an interested party would like to participate and does not have access to Goodreads, they may work with the list coordinator to get access to the list.
● Access, via your library, interlibrary loan and/or bookstores, to a large sample of youth titles published during the selection years.
● A commitment to read and evaluate recommended titles for the selection group you are in.
● A commitment to virtually attend or participate in a selection meeting at least every other year.
● Adherence to keeping the title nominations private until the organization makes a formal announcement.
● A commitment to reading books with the lens of what children will enjoy.
● A commitment to emphasizing and celebrating diversity.
● An agreement to abide by the Selection Group Guidelines and Criteria. Members who do not abide by the guidelines can be removed from the Selection Group by the GSA Committee.
Additional Selection Group Information
● Selection Group Members will meet to determine the nominees for each list in late July/beginning of August.
● The Selection Group Members will keep the information regarding the selection of titles and discussion from the meeting private. Any breach of this confidentiality may result in the dismissal of the Selection Group member in question.
● Selection Group Members must participate actively in the process by adding comments on Goodreads, attending meetings, and/or voting in order to maintain membership in the group.
How to Become a Selection Group Member
In order to become a Selection Group Member for the GSA, interested parties will fill out a form covering the following:
● Basic contact information including first and last name, city, zip code and email address
● Why they would make a good selection group volunteer for the Golden Sower Award (include paid or volunteer work done with kids or literacy-based programs, previous experience as a volunteer reader, needed perspectives they’d bring to the discussion, etc.)
● The GSA, as a committee of the Nebraska Library Association, follows the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights and ALA’s Access to Library Resources and Services to Minors. Selection Group Members must read and acknowledge they understand both of these statements before becoming a Selection Group Member for GSA. (links: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill and https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/minors)
Golden Sower Committee Charter Fall 2022
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Selection Committee, complete this Google Form. A member of the committee will contact you.
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