ALA Announces Longlist for Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

44 titles ideal for indie bookstore customers

The longlist for the 2014 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, recently announced by the American Library Association, features 44 books that offer both fresh programming opportunities and a shortcut to a wealth of quality reading suggestions. The longlist titles were chosen from the most recent Booklist Editors’ Choice and RUSA (Reference and User Services Association) Notable Books List and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers.

From the list of 44 titles, a shortlist of three titles each for fiction and nonfiction will be announced in late April, with the two winners being announced on June 29.

Booksellers are encouraged to stay up to date on the 2014 awards process and to use that information to generate interest through their social media channels, websites, newsletters, and other communications. The wider Twitter conversation about the awards can be followed at #ala_carnegie.

The Carnegie Medals for Fiction and Nonfiction were established in 2012 to recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year and are the American Library Association’s first single-book awards for adult trade fiction and nonfiction. In the same way that the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz awards are uniquely respected in youth literature, the strong library connection sets these awards apart. There’s huge general national interest — the initial announcement in March 2012 was picked up by more than 100,000 news, general media, and social media outlets, and the announcement of the finalists in April/May has been widely followed both years.

The 2013 winners were Richard Ford for Canada (Ecco/HarperCollins) and Timothy Egan for Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

The awards are co-sponsored by Booklist and RUSA and are funded through 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.

More information, including past long- and shortlists, is available at the website for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.