1. Bringing the Young Reader’s Choice Award to Life in Your Library
The Choice is Yours
Bringing the Young Reader’s Choice Award to Life in Your Library
Presented by
Sara Saxton
Youth Services Librarian
Wasilla Meta-Rose Public Library

2. About Sara Loves books. Loves kids. Loves living in Alaska.
Loves giving the power to the readers.
Has a lovely family of three.
Can be found in Wasilla.
About Sara

3. About PNLA An international, regional library association
Includes Alberta, British Columbia, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Washington
Provides opportunities for networking, education, and leadership training
Major Activities: Annual Conference, biennial Leadership Institute (LEADS), Job Board, and the Young Reader’s Choice Award
About PNLA

4. About YRCA Begun by Seattle bookseller Harry Hartman in 1940
The oldest children’s choice award in North America
The only reader’s choice award that includes youth in the US and Canada
Facilitated and run by Youth Librarians and School Librarians
Now I’ll take you through the process of creating the award step by step.
About YRCA

5. Nominations
Making the List

6. Eligible titles must be published 3 years prior to the award year.
No sequels will be considered.
Nominees from three divisions will be accepted: Junior (Grades 4-6), Intermediate (Grades 7-9), and Senior (Grades 10-12).
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Manga, and Poetry are all eligible.
There must be at least one book by a Canadian author in each division.
Criteria

7. Who nominates titles? Librarians Teachers Parents Students
Literature Lovers
Mostly librarians. Around here, not many folks seem to know that they can nominate titles. Thus, the job falls largely to librarians. A list is compiled…
Who nominates titles?

8. Creating the Ballot YRCA State & Provincial Representatives
6-8 Nominees per division
Balanced list with appeal for both boys & girls, variety of genres, quality writing, and high readability
Chance to expose readers to new genres & titles
Creating the Ballot

9. Voting
Choosing the Best

10. Rules Only students in grades 4- 12 may vote.
No matter their age, kids may vote in any division where they have read more than 1 book.
Takes place annually between March 15 and April 15.
Last year more than 50,000 kids voted across the region.
Rules

11. Awards
Honoring the Authors

12. Honorees at Conference
2011 Junior Division Winner Kazu Kibuishi signs books after accepting his medal at the PNLA Conference.
Honorees at Conference

13. Get Involved
Boosting Our Momentum

14. At Your Library Create Displays Feature YRCA Titles Label Network
Resources
At Your Library

15. Professionally