The Newbery Practitioner’s Guide: Making the Most of the Award in Your Work

This book digs in and explores where the distinguished award intersects with library work in a range of areas such as collection policy, advocacy, programming, EDI efforts, and censorship. Recognized experts in the fields of library service to youth, children’s literature, and education present strategies, guidance, and tips to support practitioners in making the most of the Newbery in their work. Inside, you’ll find
 

• tips on using booklists, displays, mock elections, and "Bookstagramming" to promote the Newbery Award and the award winners;
• perspective on the Newbery Medal at 100, examining where it fits in the history of children's literature and where children’s book publishing stands today in terms of racially diverse literature;
• guidance to help you objectively and confidently deal with issues such as weeding award books and addressing controversies involving Newbery winners and honor books;
• strategies for leveraging the renown of the Newbery Award to advocate the value of libraries and library workers serving youth; and
• time-saving programming and book group resources, including ready-made activities and discussion questions for dozens of Newbery titles.

Laura Schulte-Cooper is the program officer for communications for the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is driven by more than four thousand members dedicated to the support and enrichment of library service to children. Our members include youth librarians, literature experts, publishers, and educational faculty. ALSC supports its members in engaging communities to build healthy, successful futures for all children.