Thursday, May 07, 2009

Innovations in Reading Prize

This was the first I’d heard of the Innovations in Reading Prize, given out by the National Book Foundation. When I read about this year’s winners, I thought, what a great idea. There are probably groups out there who might qualify, yet haven’t heard of it either.
Each year, the National Book Foundation awards a number of prizes of up to $2,500 each to individuals and institutions--or partnerships between the two--that have developed innovative means of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading.
How cool is that!
A selection process was created based on the following criteria: level of innovation, impact and need, with innovation always carrying the most weight. Impact and need came into play only in cases where two programs were judged to be equally innovative. “Innovation” was not limited to meaning only technologically innovative. In some cases, innovation meant identifying a need in the community and developing a program to address that need in a simple and effective way. In all cases, selections were made to reward programs that create and sustain a life long love of reading.
Applications fell into these categories:
Education & Community Outreach
Tools & Technology
Schools & School Libraries
Public & University Libraries
Literary Magazines & Publishers
Book Clubs, Reading Series & Performance
Individuals

And who received the 2009 Innovations in Reading Prizes?
Fathers Bridging the Miles (a program of Read to Me International)
Eloy, Arizona

Maricopa County Library District (Perry Branch)
Maricope County, Arizona

James Patterson’s ReadKiddoRead.com
New York, NY

readergirlz
Tacoma, WA

Robert Wilder
Santa Fe, NM
Go to the website to learn more about each of these programs.

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9 comments:

  1. Hey now that IS really cool. I'll check out the website.

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  2. An interesting mix! I knew of ReaderGirlz, but will have to read up on the other programs.

    L. Diane Wolfe
    www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
    www.spunkonastick.net
    www.thecircleoffriends.net

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  3. If you're associated with a program that fits, it would be great to get the money -- and to be able to us in your promotional material that it was awarded to you by the National Book Foundation.

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  4. I'll have to check it out, Helen. This is the first I've heard of it. I swear, I learn more stuff when I read your blog, lol!

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  5. Helen just this morning I wrote on my blog, where we were talking about James Patterson's method of writing, that at least it gets people to read. It looks like he also has this in his heart. This is great!

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  6. Helen just this morning I wrote on my blog, where we were talking about James Patterson's method of writing, that at least it gets people to read. It looks like he also has this in his heart. This is great!

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  7. This is true, Lauri. Zip over and read about his program and why he started it. It's a good story.

    Hi Sia. I had never heard of the award either. I think it's great.

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  8. I've never heard of the prize either but it's a terrific idea. Now I'm going to go check out the winners.

    Jane Kennedy Sutton
    http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/

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  9. Wow, I've never heard of this one either but I'm really glad to find out about it.

    Now...to go check it out!

    Thanks for sharing this.

    NA Sharpe
    http://nasharpe/blogspot.com

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