The 3 Apples Book Award

Committee Guidelines

Mission Statement
    The 3 Apples Book Award has been developed to encourage the joy of reading for pleasure, and to give the children of New York State the opportunity to participate in honoring their favorite books.
    It is co-sponsored by the Youth Services and School Library Media Sections of the New York Library Association, which together represent the public and school libraries of the state.
    Each year children in grades 3-6 (ages 8-12) nominate their favorite book, creating a statewide ballot of fifteen of the most popular titles. After reading at least three of the nominated books, the children vote to select one as their favorite. That book and its author are honored with the presentation of the 3 Apples Book Award, and celebrations take place across the state in school and public libraries.

Voting Instructions and Timetable of Events
September
        • Beginning September 1st of each year, nominations are accepted from New York State students in grades 3-6 or ages 8-12.
        • One nomination per child is allowed.
        • Nominations must be a specific title, not a whole series.
        • Nomination forms will be available at school and public libraries, or can be printed from the 3 Apples Book Award website.
        • Children will submit nominations through their school or public library.

October
        • Librarians will tally the nominations by October 20th and submit them online by October 31st.

November
        • The 15 titles receiving the most nominations will be placed on the ballot, and ordering information will be made available on the website. READ! READ!! READ!!!
        • Each child must read or listen to a minimum of three nominated books in order to vote.

January
        • Promotional ideas for all nominated titles will be available on the website.

April
        • Voting will take place in libraries all over New York State.
        • Ballots will be made available at school and public libraries, and can be printed from the 3 Apples Book Award website.
        • Only children in grades 3-6 or ages 8-12 who have read or listened to at least 3 of the nominated titles are eligible to vote.
        • Each eligible child has one vote, cast at either their school or public library.
        • Voting ends on April 20th.
        • Librarians will tally the votes and submit them online by April 30th.

May
        • The award winner will be announced on the website on May 10th.
        • Libraries across the state will sponsor events to celebrate the winner of the 3 Apples Book Award.

June - August
        • Libraries will promote the award during their summer reading programs - celebrating the winning titles

September
        • Nominations will be accepted for the next crop of favorites!

Committee Membership
    The 3 Apples Book Award will be administered by a joint committee of six members, three from YSS and three from SLMS, who will report to the boards of both sections.
    Committee members must be members in good standing of YSS or SLMS, and will be selected on a rotating basis, each committee member serving a three-year term.
    Committee members will be selected by their respective boards ( The YSS board will appoint the YSS member, and the SLMS board will appoint the SLMS member.)
    Members may serve consecutive terms.
    Members serving their second-year terms will serve as co-chairs of the committee. (See addendum)

Committee Responsibilities
     The responsibilities of the members of The 3 Apples Book Award committee are as follows:
        1. Promote the nomination process in libraries throughout the state each year.
        2. Tally nominations and create a ballot of 15 nominees.
        3. Provide promotional ideas and sample materials to libraries throughout the state.
        4. Count votes and make the award announcement to the author of the winning book and the children of New York State.
        5. Update and maintain the 3applesbookaward.org website.
        6. Administer the budget allocated for the award, and seek grant support and funding from business and organizations.
        7. Establish and maintain contacts with book publishers, especially those who published the nominated titles each year.

Addendum
    The members of the ad hoc committee (2003-2005), who have created the award, feel it is important that there be some carry-over as the award is first administered and presented. They therefore recommend the following:
        • Ad hoc committee – 8 members (4 from each section)
        • October 2005 – add one new member from each section, bringing the total to 10 (The nomination process for the first award will begin in March of 2006.)
        • October 2006 – add one new member from each section, and drop two from each section, bringing the total to 8 (The vote for the first award will occur in January of 2007, the announcement of the winner and celebrations in February.)
        • October 2007 – add one new member from each section, and drop two from each section, bringing the total committee membership to 6, the recommended committee size for administering the award once it is established.

The 3 Apples Book Award is a joint program of the Youth Services (YSS) and School Library Media (SLMS) Sections of the New York Library Association (NYLA).