TLS Librarian Reads 400 Books in One Year… Find Out Why
Ask Lori Hancock of The Lexington School what she did in 2017, and she’ll say, “I read.” Makes sense – Lori is a librarian. They like to read.
But in 2017, Lori read 400 books. That’s a big number by any librarian’s standards.
Here’s why: In October of 2016, the President of the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC), of which Lori is an active member, appointed her to the 2018 John Newbery Medal Selection Committee, an honor held by only 15 librarians nationwide.
The Newbery Medal is the “Oscar” (Academy Awards) trophy for middle-grade books. To be nominated, books must be published in 2017 by an American resident by an American publisher in English for ages 0-14 years of age.
Publishers send books to the nominating committee members (Lori received over 600 books), and committee members are responsible for researching reviews, and finding and buying books independently as well.
On Feb. 12, in Denver, Colorado, the Newbery Awards were announced after a week-long conference where Lori and her 14 committee colleagues spent tireless hours selecting the winners. The selection process is a journey befitting a fictional hero. Here’s a behind the scenes look:
Starting in January of 2017, there is a monthly deadline for book suggestions. The suggestions go to the Chair, and if they show up on the list, you have to read the book.
Starting in October of 2017, after reading hundreds of books, each committee member nominates up to three books with a justification to the Chair. The Chair compiles the list, and sends it back to the full committee for more reading.
The same process happens in November and December with up to two nominated books per committee member.
By December, there are anywhere from 7 to 105 nominated books (the actual number is confidential), and only those books are considered for the Newbery awards. Committee members read or re-read all of the nominated books and take notes in preparation for the mid-winter meeting in February.
From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday of the mid-winter meeting, committee members discuss all the nominated books and come to consensus on which books remain in play and which books are taken off the table.
A minimum of 8 people on the committee must believe in the number one book, and that book must have a certain number of points ahead to win the medal.
A final balloted decision is made, and the John Newbery Medal is awarded along with any number of honored books.
The awards are announced at a nationally-covered press event.
The winner of the Newbery medal is invited to speak at the American Library Association (ALA) conference.
“It’s a pretty lonely experience up to the point of the mid-winter meeting,” Lori said. “It’s not until then that you get to discuss the books with anyone. And then it’s hard because it’s a committee decision with consensus, so sometimes you have to take books off the table that you really love, but it’s the only way to move forward.”
This year’s Newbery Awards made history because all the authors of the medal and honor books were racially/ethnically diverse.
“We didn’t even realize what was happening until it was done,” Lori said. “We had no idea our selections were making history.”
“Hello Universe” by Erin Entrada Kelly is this year’s winner of the John Newbery Medal. It is the story of four children in one day who come together and form friendships. The novel celebrates bravery and being different, and finding your inner bayani (hero).
Honor books are “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut” by Derrick D. Barnes, “Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds, and “Piecing Me Together” by Renee Watson.
“We got to put the stickers on, and then we were exhausted,” Lori said.
“I cried after the press conference. People were leaving and taking pictures, and I realized it was over. “Except it really isn’t over because those awards last forever. The Newbery award books never go out of print. They are always with us.”