Get ready to vote! The YALSA election runs from March 19 through April 25, and to help you be an informed voter, we’re sharing interviews with each of the 2014 candidates for YALSA Award Committees.
This week we are focusing on the Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award Committee, which honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a November 1 – October 31 publishing year.
Candidates, who will be presented in alphabetical order, were asked to craft “Twitter-length” responses (i.e. around 140 characters). Full biographical information on all of the candidates can be found on the sample ballot.
Today we have an interview with Barbara Moon.
Name and current position: Barbara Moon, Education Consultant
Why did you decide to run for a YALSA selection committee?
In recent years there’s been a resurgence of high quality nonfiction for young adults. Working with a committee to read and evaluate these books would be challenging and rewarding.
In a nutshell, what will you bring to the committee?
Lifetime interest in nonfiction. Experience working with selection committees. Willingness to read a significant amount of books.
What experience do you have with materials selection and evaluation?
My most extensive selection and evaluation experiences were as a secondary school librarian. As the only librarian on campus, I had the responsibility of selecting all materials for a large student body.
What makes you a good fit for this committee in particular?
I’ve worked in school, public, and academic libraries, giving me the perspective to know books currently in publication and also to recognize what students will need in order to succeed academically.
How do you plan to manage the reading load required by selection committee participation?
My best tip is to stay current on reading and if possible keep ahead of the reading schedule.
What have been some of your favorite past winners of this particular award?
I was excited to see Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design, a non-historical book, make the 2014 finalist list. Bomb read like a spy thriller; They Called Themselves the KKK is one that I will not forget.
What books should have won the award, but didn’t?
There are always books that I think are special which the committee does not recognize. However I realize that award committees must view books within specific parameters.
What else do voters need to know about you?
My reading & evaluation tools: my favorite pen, stacks and stacks of sticky notes, a spreadsheet for recording my notes, and chocolate. Lots and lots of high quality chocolate.
**All award committee candidate interviews are crossposted to both the YALSAblog and The Hub.
