Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: National Book Foundation Edition

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.

The National Book Foundation announced their long list for 2021 awards.  Please go here to see the list and to access all of the virtual events that will surround the announcement of the winners.

One of the things I really like about the announcement is that there is an essay discussing the nominated titles and their themes. This is invaluable to you as you work with readers. When patrons come in wanting to know more about the books they heard about in the news, you can access a quick soundbite for them with one click [whether you have even heard of the book or not]. 

This is a great example of what I mean when I talk about how essential it is for all of us to use resources to help leisure readers. You do NOT get bonus points for NOT using a resource and just knowing about a book. In fact, as a library worker I say you should LOSE points for NOT using resources. Using resources is what we do as a profession; it is what we are known for-- being able to find the answers, not knowing them all in our  brains. You  should NOT be proud of yourself for not using resources; actually, you should be ashamed of yourself.  

You can also click here to see my post on how to use this list to help readers with more detail, from last year when the 2020 long lists came out. 

And of course, remember past lists. Past long list nominated books are just as awesome as the current titles, but more importantly, they are probably on the shelf. The National Book Foundation has an aesthetically pleasing and useful interface to explore every past title here. Make a display, list, social media post, or just use the resource for sure bet suggestions for your literary fiction and book discussion book readers.

Here are the direct links to each category and the 5 under 35 list which is also a great resource to identify up and coming writers:

• National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35 Honorees [click here and scroll to the drop down menu at the bottom of the page to see past honorees]
• 2021 National Book Awards Long List for Fiction
• 2021 National Book Award Long List for Nonfiction
• 2021 National Book Award Long List for Poetry
• 2021 National Book Award Long List for Translated Literature
• 2021 National Book Award Long List for Young People's Literature

The 72nd National Book Awards ceremony with be online on November 17, 2021. Click here for details.