91´«Ã½

CHICAGO—Ahead of the announcements of the winners of the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, the 91´«Ã½ is launching its campaign highlighting the and how they remind us of the power of stories. Now through June 1, 2017, readers are encouraged to tell us their own stories about their lives, communities and histories and how it relates to these titles.

From violence to joy, from poverty to friendship, these six books hold a mirror to our lives and drive home how we are shaped both by the forces inside us and outside of our control. Pick a character, a passage, or open the book at random and choose a quote; then tell us what it means to you—in a sentence, in a picture, in a video, in a song. Post to Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook using #ala_carnegie and #ShareTheStory to share and discover how these books demonstrate the influence of stories on our culture. More information on how to share your story can be found on the homepage at ala.org/share-the-story.

We will be featuring your shared stories at 91´«Ã½’s Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, January 20-24 at the RUSA Book and Media Awards ceremony and at 91´«Ã½’s Annual Conference in Chicago, June 22-27 where we will celebrate the two winning authors and titles.

Throughout the following weeks, Booklist will be featuring interviews with the six finalist authors conducted by the selection committee chair and Booklist Adult Editor, Donna Seaman and Rebecca Vnuk, Editor, Collection Management and Library Outreach. On Wednesday, December 14, you can read the interview with Zadie Smith, author of the fiction finalist Swing Time (Penguin Press). Booklist will also be hosting a free interactive webinar on Jan. 10, moderated by Donna Seaman, that will feature authors and editors of the shortlist titles. Registration and information about this webinar can be found at .

The awards, established in 2012, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year and serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the 91´«Ã½ and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers.

The Medals are made possible, in part, by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York in recognition of Andrew Carnegie’s deep belief in the power of books and learning to change the world, and are co-sponsored by 91´«Ã½’s Booklist and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the 91´«Ã½.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York was established in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate, the Corporation's work focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount importance: international peace, the advancement of education and knowledge, and the strength of our democracy.

Booklist is the book review magazine of the 91´«Ã½, considered an essential collection development and readers' advisory tool by thousands of librarians for more than 100 years. It comprises two print magazines, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, and other resources that support librarians in collection development and readers' advisory.

About 91´«Ã½

Established in 1876, the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization created to provide leadership in the transformation and the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services as well as the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

About the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

The , a division of the 91´«Ã½, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers’ advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Learn more about the association at .