Collection Development
Review, weed, replenish. Library staff can investigate titles on these award lists to help build collections that meet the adult information needs of their communities.
Adult book awards
International Dublin Literary Award
Presented annually for a novel written in, or translated into, English. Nominations are submitted by libraries in major cities throughout the world.
The Booker Prize
Honors the best work of fiction of the year written in English and published in the UK and Ireland.
National Book Awards
Best fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature and young people's literature published in the United States each year.
Nobel Prizes in Literature
Awarded annually to an author from any country who has “produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction.”
Pulitzer Prize in Fiction
Distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life.
Pulitzer Prize in History
Distinguished and appropriately documented book on the history of the United States.
Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction
Distinguished and appropriately documented book of nonfiction by an American author that is not eligible for consideration in any other category.
Young adult awards
Young adult titles are read and enjoyed by teens, adults aged 19 and older and older adults. Titles on these lists can also be a source of high quality/low level reading material for adult literacy learners and ESOL learners.
Alex Awards
Given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
Honors an author for making a significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.
William C. Morris Award
Honors a book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.
Michael L. Printz Award
Awarded for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Award
Presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
YALSA’s Nonfiction Award
Best nonfiction book published for young adults, ages 12 through 18.
Here are some additional YALSA Lists to peruse: