In February we are posting interviews with each of the 2012 Candidates for YALSA Award Committees. This week we are focusing on Michael L. Printz Award Committee. Each day this week we’ll post an interview with one of the candidates for that committee. We are posting alphabetically by candidate’s last names.
The YALSA Nominating Committee for 2012 has been working hard to select candidates for this year’s election. The Printz Committee is charged with selecting from the previous year’s publications the best young adult book (“best” being defined solely in terms of literary merit) and, if the Committee so decides, as many as four Honor Books. The Committee will also have the opportunity for input into the oversight and planning of the Printz Awards Program. Committee size: 9, four to be elected, plus a consultant from the staff of Booklist, and an administrative assistant if requested.
This is your chance to get to know this year’s candidates that have been nominated to serve on the Printz Award Committee. Polls are open from March 19 to April 27.
Today we have an interview with Sarah Wethern.
What experience do you have that makes you a good candidate for the award position for which you are running?
Well, this is perhaps a tad clichéd coming from a librarian, but I love to read and I read voraciously. I have served on Minnesota’s Maud Hart Lovelace award committee, reading a plethora of both YA and middle grade books to narrow down the nominations which are then voted on by kids across the state. I served on the Cybils committee in 2009 in the Young Adult Fiction category as a round one judge, reading the many books that were nominated in order to create a list of seven finalists. As of February 2012, I am starting my tenure on YALSA’s Popular Paperbacks Committee which will give me better exposure to working within a YALSA governed media list and prepare me for the rigorous work that could potentially follow if I am elected to the Printz Committee.
Why do you want to be a member of this awards committee?
There is something special in knowing that by participating in the Printz Committee, I am helping to leave an indelible imprint on the field of young adult literature. I work hard to match readers to new and interesting books every day in my job and I love being exposed to the various opinions that come out of those discussions and conversations. I believe that serving on the Printz Committee will help elevate my local library work to a new level.
What are you most looking forward to in being a part of this award decision process?
The discussion amongst my fellow committee members. Reading alone is wonderful but I have found that as I have become more critical about the books I read, I want people to discuss those books with. I enjoy the give and take that comes with talking amongst dedicated book aficionados. There is nothing better than digging in with a pen and a group of dedicated readers ready to dissect the text, to uncover its secrets and to ultimately make an exciting decision. And I am also looking forward to the speeches that come after from the winners. That is a special moment!
What do you feel are the key factors for decision-making for this award?
Literary excellence is a key factor in this book. The beauty, ingenuity and freshness of the writing are qualities all Printz books need. These are books that have to stand the test of time, that feature themes that should be part of the reader conscious for years to come. Additionally, these books should have high teen appeal. After all, they were written with teens in mind. The Printz Award is leaving a literary mark on history and it needs to be a mark that will continue to evolve as new readers discover the stories and characters within.
The reading load for awards committees is very high, how do you plan on managing the work l
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