I have the honor of receiving all of the review books that arrive into the ALSC office. I started working for ALSC in December 1996, and it’s been Christmas every day since then. You see, I love opening the boxes of books that we receive almost everyday. I’m like a kid in the candy store; I get so excited to see all the new titles of the year. I like contemplating which books I think the committees will select as an award winner or as a notable book. Boxes start arriving for the new year in early December and continue year round. We have two areas for storing books that are sent to the office. When books first arrive they are housed in area one (which is an entire wall of shelves) until award and evaluation committee chairs send me their final nomination list (which is confidential) of titles that they need to see at Annual Conference or the Midwinter Meeting.
These books are moved into area two, where these titles are held under lock and key. If ALSC has not received a copy of a book a committee member would like to see, I send a request to the publisher who then sends me copies before conference. Also if a committee member has trouble finding a copy of a book, I will send a copy to them if we have one in the office.
Time is always ticking! The trunks for conference shipments arrive in our office about a month before conference. I pack the books in and they are on their way to conference, waiting to be chosen as a Medal, Honor or Notable book of the year!
Angela Smith
Administrative Assistant
Timothy Carter
I was wondering if you had reviewed my novel, Epoch? If not, would you like to? It is a fantasy/comedy for the YA market, and I’d be happy to send you a copy.
Diane
Angela, thanks for providing this window into the important work you do!
Timothy, and anyone else interested in submitting books to us, please visit the ALSC Web site at http://www.ala.org/alsc and click on “Awards & Scholarships,” then on the red “Publisher Info” button for submission guidelines & procedures for all ALSC awards & recommended media lists.
Please keep in mind that ALSC’s service population goes up to age 14. True YA may be of more interest to our sister ALA division, the Young Adult Library Services Association, http://www.ala.org/yalsa.
–Diane