Nominations and Guidelines

Minnesota Book Awards

Nominations for the 25th annual Minnesota Book Awards will open August 1, 2012.

25th Annual Minnesota Book Awards Categories

Children’s Literature - a picture book or easy reader for young children, typically combining text and illustration in telling the story (Minnesota authors and illustrators are both eligible in this category; fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books are all eligible).

General Nonfiction - a book of nonfiction, including, but not limited to, history, biography, science, nature, and cookbooks.

Genre Fiction - a book of fiction written in a popular genre or style, including mystery, detective, fantasy, romance, graphic novel and science fiction.

Memoir & Creative Nonfiction - a book of nonfiction which is primarily autobiographical in theme, or which includes a significant amount of personal material and/or imaginative reworking.

Minnesota – a book of nonfiction with a topic on Minnesota history, nature, social customs or nostalgia.

Novel & Short Story - a novel, novella, or short story collection.

Poetry - a book-length single poem or collection of poetry.

Young People's Literature - a book written for a middle grade or teen audience (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novels are eligible).

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Eligibility

  1. The book must be the work of a Minnesota author; or primary artistic creator such as an illustrator or photographer whose contribution is essential to the work.
  2. The author or primary artistic creator must be a current Minnesota resident who maintains a year-round residence in Minnesota.
  3. Books by deceased individuals who met the eligibility requirements at the time of their death are eligible as long as the book also meets all eligibility requirements.
  4. An ISBN is required.
  5. Books created by a writing team are eligible if at least one of the primary authors or artistic creators is a Minnesota resident.
  6. Anthologies containing work written by multiple authors are not eligible.
  7. A book may be entered in only one category. The Minnesota Book Awards makes the final decision on category placement for all nominated books.
  8. An English translation of a book previously written in another language is not eligible.
  9. Only books published in 2012 are eligible. If a book has a copyright other than 2012, a written explanation of when the book was first released must be provided.
  10. A reprint of a book published in another year is not eligible.
  11. A book containing previously published material is eligible only if the majority of the content is new material.
  12. Self-published books are eligible.
  13. Advance reading copies and galleys are not eligible. If a book’s 2012 release date is after the deadline of December 14, 2012, the author or publisher should contact the Minnesota Book Awards office prior to the December 14 deadline to discuss eligibility.
  14. The final decision on a book’s eligibility is made by the Minnesota Book Awards, and its decision will be binding.

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Entry Guidelines

  1. An entry form must be completed for each title submitted.
  2. A book may be nominated by the book’s author, publisher or agent.
  3. An entry fee of $45 per title must accompany the nomination. The nomination fee for publishers submitting four or more titles is $165 which covers all titles nominated.
  4. Checks and credit card payments must include the name(s) of the title(s) being submitted.
  5. A book may be submitted in only one of the eight book categories. Final determination of the appropriate category for the book will be determined by the Minnesota Book Awards.
  6. Five (5) non-returnable copies of the book must be submitted with the nomination. These books become the property of the Minnesota Book Awards and will be donated to Minnesota public libraries following the judging process.
  7. The nomination form, entry fee, and five copies of the book must be received by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library’s office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012 in order for the book to be eligible.
  8. Nomination materials may be emailed, mailed, or faxed as appropriate. Materials may also be delivered in person between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
    Contact information for submitting nomination materials and for questions is:
          The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
          325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
          Saint Paul, MN  55101-1055
          Phone: 651-366-6497   Fax: 651-222-1988
          Email: mnbookawards@thefriends.org

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NOTE: Nominations will open August 1, 2012.

2011 nomination forms are posted for reference only. Please do not
nominate a book for the 25th Annual Awards using last year's forms.

Download Word.doc

Download PDF

Download, print and complete the 24th Annual Minnesota Book Awards Nomination Form. (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.
  5. Send us the form by email, selecting and attaching your saved file.

Return the completed form with entry fee and five copies of each book title submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011 to:

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

Pay your entry fee online now using PayPal.

PLEASE NOTE: Submission will not be complete until The Friends has received all required items: completed nomination form, $45 entry fee, and five (5) copies of the book for each title submitted.

A confirmation email will be sent to the author's email address, as well as to the publisher contact email.

Quantity of books nominated

 

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Apply to be a Judge

Selection of the Minnesota Book Awards finalists and winners is done by panels of volunteer judges. Great care is given to ensure diversity of background and experience on the panels. To be considered for a judge assignment, applicants must be well qualified to evaluate books within the category they wish to judge. Candidates may include, but are not limited to, booksellers, librarians, publishers, reviewers, scholars, teachers, and writers. 

The Book Awards judging process has two parts:

  1. Preliminary Round: Selection of the finalists, culminating at the end of January.  Each of the eight award categories has a panel of three judges.  The judges on these panels will meet on Saturday, January 28, 2012 to select the four finalists within their award category.
  2. Final Round: Selection of category winners, in early March.  Each of the eight award categories has a panel of three judges.  The judges on these panels will meet on Saturday, March 3, 2012 to select the winner within their award category.

For detailed information about the judge volunteer position, please review the position overview for each round (below). Individuals interested in volunteering to be a judge are invited to complete the judge application form (click here).  The deadline for applying is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 2011.  The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library will acknowledge the receipt of all applications. Once the selection of judges has occurred, all applicants will receive a communication confirming whether or not they have received a judge assignment.

Detailed guidelines and criteria for evaluation of the nominated books and for the panel process are provided by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, as are facilitators for the January and March panel sessions.  Both panel sessions will take place at Open Book, home of The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

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Award Panel Judge Position Overview

Click here for a printable Word.doc of the Preliminary Round Judge's Position Description.

Click here for a PDF of the Preliminary Round Judge's Position Description.

Click here for a printable Word.doc of the Final Round Judge's Position Description.

Click here for a PDF of the Final Round Judge's Position Description.

Download Judges Application Form as Word document

Download Judges application form as PDF

Download the Minnesota Book Awards Judge Application Forms.

  1. Click here to download the Judge Application, as a Word document, to your computer.
  2. Click here to download Application, as PDF.
  3. 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.
  4. Open your saved document and fill it out.
  5. Save the completed form to your computer.
  6. Send us the form by email, selecting and attaching your saved file.

Return the completed application form no later than Friday, October 14, 2011 to:

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

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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.

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