Resources for Writers, Readers, and Book Lovers

Reading Guides
Minnesota Book Awards Posters, Bookmarks and "Honored Book" Seals
Author Interviews
The MNBA Collection at Saint Paul Public Library
Resources for Minnesota Writers
Minnesota Libraries:
    Host an Author Program - we'll show you how!

Funding reimbursement available for library-sponsored
    Book Awards author programs - Deadline May 11


Reading Guides

Download reading guides for the 21st annual Minnesota Book Award Winners, 2009 (16 pages for the full set of guides, or individually, as 2-page PDFs).

Full set of reading guides for Minnesota Book Award winners, 2009 Susan Marie Swanson - The House in the Night
Barbara W. Sommer - Hard Work and a Good Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota
Heid E. Erdrich - National Monuments
Julie Kramer - Stalking Susan
Catherine Friend - The Compassionate Carnivore: Or, How to Keep Animals Happy, Save Old MacDonald’s Farm, Reduce Your Hoofprint, and Still Eat Meat

Louise Erdrich - The Plague of Doves

Click above to download the full set,
or click on the titles at right for
individual reading guides

Kao Kalia Yang - The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir
Brian Malloy - Twelve Long Months

Download reading guides for the 20th annual Minnesota Book Award Winners, 2008 (18 pages for the full set of guides, or individually, as 2-page PDFs).

Full set of reading guides for Minnesota Book Award winners, 2008 Lynne Jonell - Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat
Charles Baxter - The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot
William Kent Krueger - Thunder Bay
Patricia Hampl - The Florist's Daughter
Doug Hoverson - Land of Amber Waters: The History of Brewing in Minnesota
Wang Ping - The Last Communist Virgin
Deborah Keenan - Willow Room, Green Door

Click above to download the full set,
or click on the titles at right for
individual reading guides

Will Weaver - Defect
Jill Kalz - Farmer Cap

Download reading guides for the 19th annual Minnesota Book Award Winners, 2007 (16 pages for the full set of guides, or individually, as 2-page PDFs).

Full set of reading guides for Minnesota Book Award winners, 2007
Diane Wilson - Spirit Car
Dianne E. Gray - Tomorrow, the River
Taner Akçam - A Shameful Act
William Kent Krueger - Copper River
Maureen Millea Smith - When Charlotte Comes Home
Jude Nutter - The Curator of Silence

Click above to download the full set,
or click on the titles at right for
individual reading guides

Julie Schumacher - The Book of One Hundred Truths

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Now available for authors, illustrators, publishers and booksellers:

Minnesota Book Awards “Honored Book” Seals

Minnesota Book Awards "Honored Book" Seals

These self-adhesive seals can be applied to new runs and existing copies of honored books to draw attention and boost sales.

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, host of the Minnesota Book Awards, is making available to authors, illustrators, publishers and booksellers a specially designed, high-quality, foil seal in both silver (for finalists), and gold (for winners). 

Minnesota Book Awards "Honored Book" seals can be ordered in quantities of 100, with a minimum order of 100 in either gold or silver.  To order via email, please download, complete and send the order form (below) to mnbookawards@thefriends.org or to friends@thefriends.org.  To order via fax, complete and fax the order form to 651-222-1988.  Mail orders may be sent with check or credit card payment to:

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, MN  55101-1055

For additional information, please contact Ann Nelson at 651-222-3242.

PRICES
(Includes sales tax and standard shipping. Please allow 2 weeks for delivery.)

100      $ 20                             1,000      $ 120

200      $ 35                             5,000      $ 375

500      $ 80                             10,000    $ 500

Download, print and complete the order form for Minnesota Book Awards "Honored Book" seals. (Click here for a PDF)

  1. Click here to download a Word document to your computer.
  2. A pop-up window will ask you whether you want to open the file or save it to your computer. Select the option that will save the document to your computer.
  3. Open your saved document and fill it out.
  4. Save the completed form to your computer.
    Send us the form by email, selecting and attaching your saved file.

Return the completed order form with your check or credit card payment information to:

    The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
    325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
    Saint Paul, MN 55101-1055
    Fax: 651-222-1988
    mnbookawards@thefriends.org

Download order form as a Word document
Download order form as a PDF

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20th Annual Minnesota Book Awards Winning Authors Interviewed

Watch them here in a small window, or directly on Blip.TV!  

Click here to visit Blip.TV

Click here to see the 2007 Minnesota Book Award-winning authors interviewed.

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Minnesota Book Awards 2009 Winners Posters

Click here to download the 2009 Minnesota Book Award winners poster

Click here to download the 2009 Minnesota Book Award winners' poster for Young Readers

Download the 17" x 22" posters by clicking on the images above, or email mnbookawards@thefriends.org to request high-quality, glossy, printed copies.

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Minnesota Book Awards 2009 Bookmarks

Request your free, full-color Minnesota Book Awards bookmarks, complete with all category winners and publishers listed on a beautiful and scenic Minnesota background. These handy bookmarks were distributed to all Minnesota library systems. Contact our office to request an additional supply for your library, a stack for your bookstore, or a single bookmark for your personal use. Simply email us at mnbookawards@thefriends.org. Minesota Book Awards bookmark with 2008 Winners

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For Libraries: Hosting an Author Program or Reading

Literary programming is an exciting way to generate interest among adults in the activities of the public library. It also supports the authors and publishers living and working in our state. This downloadable handbook is just a starting point, with guides and tips for the novice programmer. It is based on practical experience conducting these types of events, augmented by samples from the programming activities of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.

If you believe in creating an environment which recognizes and promotes the library as a cultural center in your community—a place meant to encourage the reading, enjoyment and understanding of literature—and if you want to bring readers together with the authors they like to read, this step-by-step handbook will help you create programs that accomplish your objectives. Though the handbook is primarily designed for the novice literary program planner, even the experienced planner may find new ideas here.

Click here to download the Author Program Handbook as a PDF  (428 KB).

Click here to download the Author Program Handbook as a Word.doc  (2.3 MB).

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Funding Reimbursement Available for Library-Sponsored Minnesota Book Awards Author ProgramsJulie Kramer author program

Applications accepted through May 11

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library is delighted to announce the continuation of a Minnesota Book Awards initiative made possible by grants from the Minnesota Department of Education – Office of State Library Services and the Minnesota Library Foundation. 

Minnesota libraries and affiliated nonprofit library organizations are invited to apply for funding reimbursement to host a single author event or series featuring Minnesota Book Awards winners or finalists.  To be eligible, the event or series must take place by November 1, 2009.

The maximum that may be requested by any one organization is $500.  Priority consideration will be given to libraries who have not received author program funding reimbursement from the Book Awards during the last 12 months.

Interested library organizations should review the funding guidelines in their entirety.  Organizations wishing to be considered for Book Awards funding reimbursement should ensure their application reaches the Book Awards office no later than Monday, May 11.

Click here to download the Author Event Funding Guidelines as a Word.doc.
Click here to download the Author Event Funding Guidelines as a PDF.

Click here to download the Author Event Funding Appliction Form as a Word.doc.
Click here to download the Author Event Funding Appliction Form as a PDF.

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The Minnesota Book Awards is a project of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library,
in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the City of Saint Paul. Outreach partners
and supporting organizations include:  MELSA, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minnesota
Department of Education—State Library Services, and Minnesota Educational Media Organization.