South Carolina Book Awards Participation Guidelines

Purpose of Awards

The purposes of the South Carolina book awards are to encourage our students to read good quality contemporary literature and to honor the authors of the books annually chosen the favorites by student vote. The book award medals will be awarded to the winning authors the following year at the annual conference of the SCASL.

Guidelines for Participation

A. Students

1. Participation in the South Carolina Book Award program is open to all students who are attending public or private schools in grades 4k-12.
2. Older students may read from early in the school year until the voting date which will be published on the SCASL website and in the Media Center Messenger; younger students do best if reading is done the last few months before voting.

B. Sponsor

1. It is suggested that the school media specialist be the sponsor of the book award program in a school; however, any teacher or administrator may act as sponsor.
2. So students may participate, the sponsor should do several things.
   a. The sponsor should secure the support and authorization of the principal.
   b. The sponsor should provide information about participating in the award program to teachers and students.
   c. The sponsor should read the books to determine if each is acceptable by th the school's book selection policy.
   d. The sponsor should encourage reading by selecting the best list or combination of lists to serve his/her school. Schools must purchase at least 50% of the titles on each list in order to participate. Students should read a minimum of five books from the Picture Book or Children's Book list in order to vote for that award. Students in the Picture Book category are encouraged to read at least eight of the titles. Students should read a minimum of three books from the Junior Book list or Young Adult Book list in order to vote.
   e. Each child has one vote in each of the categories.
   f. Every vote (not just the school winner) should be sent to the corresponding book award vice chair by the specified date. The SCASL website includes a voting form and tally sheets for use by schools.
   g. Participating schools will be given a Certificate of Participation.