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Kay Sexton Award
Nominations are open through Friday, January 15, 2010, for the Kay Sexton Award, which is presented annually to an individual or organization in recognition of long-standing dedication and outstanding work in fostering books, reading and literary activity in Minnesota. The award honors Kay Sexton, a book buyer for many years at Dayton’s and B. Dalton Bookstores in the Twin Cities. She was the first recipient of the award in 1988.
Nominees may include but are not limited to publishers, booksellers, teachers and leaders of literary organizations. Authors and writers are eligible to be nominated, although the Sexton Award is for overall contributions to Minnesota’s book community, and is not an award for writing. Anyone is eligible to submit a nomination using the Kay Sexton Award nomination form available on this website. The Sexton Award panel determines the winner based on careful review and consideration of all nominations. Click here for guidelines and forms.
Carolyn Holbrook Named 2010 Kay Sexton Award Recipient for Contributions to Minnesota’s Book Community
Carolyn Holbrook, a community leader, teacher, advocate, mentor and innovator, will be honored with the Kay Sexton Award on April 17 at the 22nd annual Minnesota Book Awards gala presented by RBC Wealth Management. The Sexton Award is presented annually to an individual in recognition of long-standing dedication and outstanding work in fostering books, reading, and literary activity in Minnesota. This award honors Kay Sexton, a book buyer for many years at Dayton’s and B. Dalton Bookstores in the Twin Cities. She was the first recipient of the award in 1988. The Kay Sexton Award is sponsored by Common Good Books.
Since the early 1980s, Holbrook’s vision has been to promote the inclusion of disparate voices in the global community. She remains committed to writers, readers and spoken word artists - reaching out to individuals and communities whose access to opportunities for exploration of writing is limited or nonexistent. Holbrook’s work reaches across and connects arts organizations, schools, individual artists, and neighborhoods.
Andrea Gilats, PhD and Director of LearningLife at the University of Minnesota, says this of Holbrook’s impact on Minnesota’s literary community, “Carolyn believes that if we see a need, we can work to meet it. She is an inspirational example of what it means to have an indomitable spirit. Her instinctive, respectful practice of cultural entrepreneurism, her remarkable persistence, and her sheer joy in seeing others grow and thrive are lessons in living for us all. By consistently choosing affirmation, optimism, and progress over anger, complacency, and exclusion, Carolyn has created models for people and communities everywhere.”
Holbrook was the founder and director of The Whittier Writers’ Workshop from 1979 to 1986 where she developed the first mentorship program for African American writers in the Twin Cities. From 1989 to 1993 she served as the Program Director at The Loft Literary Center, and from 2005 to 2007 she was Education Coordinator at the Givens Foundation for African American Literature where she developed and managed a writers-in-the-schools program. In 1993, she founded SASE: The Write Place, an organization dedicated to making the literary arts accessible to a diverse community. Holbrook served as SASE’s Executive Director until 2006 when she spearheaded the organization’s successful merger with Intermedia Arts.
Other organizations benefitting from Holbrook’s involvement include the Minnesota Book Awards, Minnesota State Arts Board, Rain Taxi Review, Everyday Sidewalks on City Streets, Minnesota Literature Network, Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and Blacklock Nature Sanctuary. She teaches in the English departments at Hamline University and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
Carolyn Holbrook will receive the Kay Sexton Award at the 22nd annual Minnesota Book Awards gala on April 17 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel – Saint Paul Riverfront. Awards will also be presented in eight book categories, as well as the Readers’ Choice Award, sponsored by the Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com, and the Book Artist Award, co-sponsored by Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), and presented this year to Wilber H. “Chip” Schilling.
For more information on the Minnesota Book Awards or to make a gala reservation, explore our website or call 651-222-3242.
Click here for a list of all previous winners
2009 Kay Sexton Award winner: Patrick Coleman, Acquisitions Librarian at the Minnesota Historical Society, mentor, collector and blogger.
Patrick Coleman was honored with the Kay Sexton Award on April 25 at the 21st annual Minnesota Book Awards gala.
As Acquisitions Librarian at the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS), where he has worked for the last thirty years, Coleman identifies, selects, and procures books for the Library. He is considered both a pioneer and classicist. Coleman has expanded the horizons of collecting, making the MHS Library’s collection a vital resource for all users: academics, family historians, students, businesses, and government. He has developed the premiere collection of books and printed material about Minnesota available in the world. Through his work, the MHS Library is one of the preeminent research libraries in the region and nation. Coleman collects the typical and necessary local histories along with the new examples of current literature, artist books, and amazing rare pamphlets and maps.
Through his deep working relationships with scholars, authors, publishers, donors, and book artists, Coleman continues to make huge contributions to the overall Minnesota book community. He works with dealers and booksellers to facilitate the acquiring of books. He has close relationships with public libraries, and has served on the University of Minnesota’s Friends of the Library Board. Coleman currently serves on the Coffee House Press board, served on the Minnesota Humanities Commission board, and is a long-time member of both the Ampersand Club and the Manuscript Society. He writes the 150 Best Minnesota Books Blog, originally begun in honor of the state’s sesquicentennial, highlighting books which are important to the intellectual life and identity of the state.
Minnesota author Patricia Hampl says this of Coleman’s contributions to the state’s book community, “Pat is deeply committed to community service – so much so he doesn’t even call it that. He just has an instinct and manages to pull people together in the interest of books and reading.” Coleman believes in the strength of members of Minnesota’s book community functioning together and working toward one goal: promoting learning through the written word. Congratulations on winning this prestigious award, and thank you, Pat!
In the News:
Sexton Award winner Coleman binds love of books and history
By Mary Ann Grossmann, Pioneer Press - March 3, 2009
Patrick Coleman knew when he was a teenager that he wanted to be the Minnesota Historical Society's acquisitions editor. Coleman got his dream job 30 years ago, and he's done it so well he'll be honored by the Minnesota Book Awards with the 2009 Kay Sexton Award for outstanding dedication to books and the local literary community. READ MORE...
Previous Winners:
2009 Patrick Coleman, blogger, literary activist and acquisitions librarian, Minnesota Historical Society
2008 Don Leeper, founder and president of BookMobile, a pioneer in Print On Demand. Instrumental in the founding of Minnesota Bookbuilders, a nonprofit association promoting bookmaking and publishing.
2007 Emilie Buchwald, publisher, Milkweed Editions and Gryphon Press, former board member and chair of The Loft Literary Center
2006 Richard Robbins, director of the creative writing program at Minnesota State University (MSU), Mankato and the Good Thunder Reading Series
2005 Marly Rusoff, founder of The Loft Literary Center
2004 Dr. Julian Plante, founding director, Hill Monastic Manuscript Library
2003 John "Jack" Parker, curator, James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota
2003 Karen Nelson Hoyle, curator, Children's Literature Research Collections, including the Kerlan Collection and the Hess Collection, at the University of Minnesota
2002 Harry Lerner, publisher, Lerner Publishing Group
2001 Jolie Lynne Sasseville & James Drey Alzheimer, co-founders of Stone House Press and organizers of literary arts programs in Otter Tail County (presented posthumously)
2000 Jeanne Fischer, book reviewer, book discussion leader, library volunteer
1999 Gail See, Bookcase bookstore and literary organization boards
1998 C.W. "Bill" Truesdale, publisher, New Rivers Press
1997 Gov. Elmer L. Andersen, book collector and bibliophilanthropist
1996 Harold Kittleson, bibliophile and library benefactor
1995 Norton Stillman, book wholesaler, bookstore owner and publisher
1994 Glenda Martin & Mollie Hoben, founders, Minnesota Women's Press
1993 David Unowsky, owner, Ruminator Bookstore
1992 Doris Pagel, editor, Authors and Illustrators as Program Resources
1991 The Charles and Gertie Geck Family, promoters of children's books and authors
1989 Mary Ann Grossmann, books editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press
1988 Kay Sexton, book buyer and promoter of books and reading, B. Dalton
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Nomination forms and guidelines
Download, print and complete the 2010 Kay Sexton Award Nomination Form. (click here for a PDF)
Please return the completed form no later than Friday, January 15, 2010 at 5 p.m. to: |
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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.