The Polls Are Open: Balloting Begins for 2008 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards

Voting for the 2008 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards is now open to the owners and staff of all American Booksellers Association member bookstores. The awards honor independent booksellers' handselling favorites in the categories of Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Children's Literature, and Children's Illustrated.

The ballot includes titles appearing on the 2007 Book Sense Picks lists, as well as space for write-ins in each category. Only books published in 2007 are eligible.

The title receiving the most votes in each category will be designated the Book Sense Book of the Year. The next four titles with the highest number of votes in each category will be designated Book Sense Honor Books.

Winners and honor books will be announced in late March, and their authors will be invited to attend the Book Sense Author Luncheon and the Celebration of Bookselling at this spring's BookExpo America in Los Angeles.

Everyone working at an ABA member store is encouraged to vote, but only one ballot per person will be accepted. Ballots may be submitted electronically or downloaded via BookWeb.org. In addition, stores with Book Sense will receive ballots in the January White Box and February Red Box mailings. Ballots will also be available at this month's Winter Institute.

Voting online and via fax to (914) 591-2720 is open until midnight on Monday, March 3. Ballots sent via regular mail must be postmarked by Friday, February 22, and received at ABA (BSBY at ABA/Book Sense, 200 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, New York 10591) by March 3.