Comments on Stacked: When we fail to do our part

This is a terrific post. I especially love the sug...

2012-02-01T13:46:45.882-06:00

This is a terrific post. I especially love the suggestion to review our shelves at the end of each month and fill out the nominations as we think of books that are a cut above. I suspect that my What Can't Wait made it on BFYA because of a field nomination, although there's no way to be sure, of course.

Much gratitude to you for taking the time to articulate the issue and call us to action.

I would think anyone would love more field nomin...

2012-01-27T10:52:19.409-06:00

I would think *anyone* would love more field nominations -- as long as they fit the criteria, of course. The wider the field, the more true to a "best of" you can get!

I was on Amazing Audiobooks last year. We received...

2012-01-27T10:51:28.044-06:00

I was on Amazing Audiobooks last year. We received exactly one field nomination, and it wound up on our top ten. This year, I'm chairing Amazing Audiobooks, and I'd *love* to see more field nominations. Bring 'em on!

I was on Amazing Audiobooks last year. We received...

2012-01-27T10:50:36.589-06:00

I think that's a big problem -- it's NOT a...

2012-01-26T19:20:51.540-06:00

I think that's a big problem -- it's NOT all that obvious anyone can nominate a title. Teachers are probably among the best people TO nominate. So, yes, spread the word!

Kelly, I had absolutely NO IDEA this was possible....

2012-01-26T18:48:23.352-06:00

Kelly, I had absolutely NO IDEA this was possible. Thank you so much for sharing this info. Tweeting this out to all my Tweeps right now. I follow lots of teachers that were really invested in the ALA awards this year. I wonder how many of them know this.

The only way we can feel good about it is if we ta...

2012-01-26T17:25:58.525-06:00

The only way we can feel good about it is if we take the time to nominate, you know? At least knowing you DID it is enough to know you did your part (even if the end results aren't what you'd hoped).

Committee processes are always going to be different, depending on the committee, and not all committees work the same way. Sometimes it's a vote and sometimes it's a rank system. That can wildly impact the way things fall.

But, we have to do our part as non-members to ensure those who are on the committee have the widest range of titles from which to work with and choose from.

This happened to me last year and I felt horrible ...

2012-01-26T17:19:57.012-06:00

This happened to me last year and I felt horrible about it. I know how much work goes into our committees and it's up to us to get the nomination list right before they can do their work.
I wasn't pleased with several things at ALAMW this year. Some committee picks were off for me. Some were way off. Until I read your post I felt like backing away from the process because I'm not sure I can help when it seems the quality criteria is changing. But your post helped me want to jump back in. Thank you! I may not be able to choose the winners when I'm not on a committee, but at least I can make sure the great books are nominated. I also love Imaginary Girls and was sad not to see it on BFYA.

This just reminds me that the more you put into YA...

2012-01-26T14:01:06.617-06:00

This just reminds me that the more you put into YALSA (or really any organization), the more you get out. It's a small thing, nominating, but it makes all the difference.

You should feel proud of yourself about making the...

2012-01-26T13:38:13.905-06:00

You should feel proud of yourself about making the nomination!

And yeah, maybe it means your workload will go up a bit, but it's worth it if it means THE BEST are being selected from as large a pool as possible. You know this from Cybils ;)

I'm definitely happy that I took the time to n...

2012-01-26T13:36:23.251-06:00

I'm definitely happy that I took the time to nominate Where Things Come Back for the Morris this year. It was my first field nomination EVER. I'm ridiculously proud of myself for it. If you can't tell. Although, with this call to arms, I'm a little scared that my committee workload will be LARGER. ;)

I think this is it EXACTLY: "at the end of th...

2012-01-26T11:46:31.580-06:00

I think this is it EXACTLY: "at the end of the day we only had so many committee members and so much time to listen, so some titles just didn't get listened to, plain and simple."

You guys bust your butts to make these lists happen and to make these awards happen, and the onus SHOULDN'T be entirely on the committee. It belongs to all of us!

During my time on Amazing Audiobooks (2 years), we...

2012-01-26T11:40:27.143-06:00

During my time on Amazing Audiobooks (2 years), we had maybe 2 field nominations (and I think one was from a former committee member who had just cycled off the committee). I can't remember if either one made the list, but they were definitely considered. The audiobook publishers seemed to do a pretty good job of submitting their new releases, but at the end of the day we only had so many committee members and so much time to listen, so some titles just didn't get listened to, plain and simple. A field nomination would have definitely made a title a priority. Nominate, nominate, nominate!

Exactly what my thoughts were, too! And then walki...

2012-01-26T11:35:11.036-06:00

Exactly what my thoughts were, too! And then walking away and realizing *I* could have done the five minute work to nominate it has given me such guilt. And you're right -- Imaginary Girls was not alone. Like Mandarin was another one not in consideration, as was The Returning, which got a Printz honor (but not a BFYA consideration).

If we all take a little time to do it, the chances of this happening again get smaller :)

It is breathtaking! Enjoy the read!

2012-01-26T11:32:49.479-06:00

It is breathtaking! Enjoy the read!

The nominations for 2013 considerations should ope...

2012-01-26T11:32:26.698-06:00

The nominations for 2013 considerations should open next week, and YES! Use the knowledge and nominate those books.

While I new about field nominations, I never did i...

2012-01-26T10:56:40.545-06:00

While I new about field nominations, I never did it, because "Imaginary Girls is the AWESOME and OBVIOUSLY someone will nominate it."

And no one did. And Imaginary Girls is not alone on this. I'm with you on the guilt.

My New Year's resolution is to nominate every awesome (eligible) book I read.

I just took Imaginary Girls out of the library and...

2012-01-26T10:27:11.366-06:00

I just took Imaginary Girls out of the library and now I'm even more excited to read it. I had no idea that anyone could nominate a title. Thank you for telling us!

I have to say that this is one thought-provoking p...

2012-01-26T10:25:24.544-06:00

I have to say that this is one thought-provoking post. I had no idea it was possible to do this! Thank you for letting us all know. It's definitely knowledge that'll be put to good use in the future.

Oh wow, my guilt just went up MORE in realizing th...

2012-01-26T09:05:13.624-06:00

Oh wow, my guilt just went up MORE in realizing that one wasn't on the consideration list either! Another book I adored this year and that had definite BFYA consideration qualities.

Thanks for posting about this, Kelly! I've kno...

2012-01-26T09:03:51.255-06:00

Thanks for posting about this, Kelly! I've known about field nominations, but always just assumed that someone else would nominate the titles I love -- obviously not so! Definitely should have nominated Like Mandarin.

I didn't know a lot of this stuff, either. Hop...

2012-01-26T09:03:15.511-06:00

I didn't know a lot of this stuff, either. Hopefully it'll encourage people to do their part in the next year (and after).

Thanks! I had no idea this was true.

2012-01-26T08:44:51.514-06:00

Thanks! I had no idea this was true.

GREAT point, Abby!

2012-01-26T08:41:08.181-06:00

GREAT point, Abby!

Yes, yes, yes! This is a great goal and one I'...

2012-01-26T08:40:26.939-06:00

Yes, yes, yes! This is a great goal and one I'm going to do, too - make sure that my favorites are nominated. I would add to this that many state book awards take field nominations, too. Each state is different (for some states you may have to be a teacher or belong to the state library association, etc.), but check on your state's process and make sure you're nominating for that, too!

Comments on Stacked: When we fail to do our part

This is a terrific post. I especially love the sug...

I would think *anyone* would love more field nomin...

I was on Amazing Audiobooks last year. We received...

I was on Amazing Audiobooks last year. We received...

I think that's a big problem -- it's NOT a...

Kelly, I had absolutely NO IDEA this was possible....

The only way we can feel good about it is if we ta...

This happened to me last year and I felt horrible ...

This just reminds me that the more you put into YA...

You should feel proud of yourself about making the...

I'm definitely happy that I took the time to n...

I think this is it EXACTLY: "at the end of th...

During my time on Amazing Audiobooks (2 years), we...

Exactly what my thoughts were, too! And then walki...

It is breathtaking! Enjoy the read!

The nominations for 2013 considerations should ope...

While I new about field nominations, I never did i...

I just took Imaginary Girls out of the library and...

I have to say that this is one thought-provoking p...

Oh wow, my guilt just went up MORE in realizing th...

Thanks for posting about this, Kelly! I've kno...

I didn't know a lot of this stuff, either. Hop...

Thanks! I had no idea this was true.

GREAT point, Abby!

Yes, yes, yes! This is a great goal and one I'...

I would think anyone would love more field nomin...