From: Norma Jean Sawicki <nsawicki>
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:02:37 -0500

I agree with....

"I don't know how closely the "average" librarian, teacher, or bookseller (I know, you're all above average, it's true!) tracks the totality of ALA awards. But at some point it starts to feel a bit diluted."

Sometimes, less is more. Sure...awards make people feel good but it takes time for an award to take hold...to have an impact. Some...such as the Mildred Batchelder Award...never do. I sometimes fear the granting of an award enables some to believe that the granting of an award means a job well done when it is sometimes the beginning, no more. The Newbery/Caldecott Awards were started at a time when there was far less competition for leisure time, and too, when reading books was valued in a way that it is not today. Norma Jean
Received on Mon 21 Jan 2008 12:02:37 PM CST