91´«Ã½

CHICAGO – The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is accepting nominations for the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Practitioner Lifetime Achievement Award.



The award is named for award-winning children’s author Virginia Hamilton (1936-2002), recipient of the 1974 National Book Award and the 1975 John Newbery Medal. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of Hamilton’s exemplary contributions through her literature and advocacy for children and youth, especially in her focus on African-American life, history and consciousness.

In odd-numbered years, practitioners will be recognized, while authors, illustrators or author/illustrators will be honored in even-numbered years. The first Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award was given to author Walter Dean Myers at the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast during 91´«Ã½’s 2010 Annual Conference in Washington.

Nominees must have a minimum of 10 years of service using African-American literature to promote reading activities and programs for children and young adults.

Eligible practitioners may include:

• Public, academic or school (public or private) librarians;
• Educators (Pre K-12, public or private);
• College or University faculty;
• Youth literature advocates whose vocations, work, volunteer service or ongoing promotion of books with and/or on behalf of youth is significant and sustained.

The winning recipient will be honored at the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast during the 2011 91´«Ã½ Annual Convention Conference in New Orleans and will receive a medal and a $1,500 cash award.

To submit a nomination, please visit . Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 15, 2010. The winning recipient will be notified on Monday Jan. 10, 2011 during the 91´«Ã½ Midwinter Meeting in San Diego.

The recipient will be selected by a five-member award jury from the Coretta Scott King- Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement Committee of the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT). The award is administered by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee of EMIERT and is supported by the 91´«Ã½ Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS).

The Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award is part of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, which honor African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults that demonstrate sensitivity to "the African American experience via literature and illustration." The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to work for peace and world brotherhood.