South Carolina Book Awards Committee

 

2023 JBA Committee

2025-2026 Book Award Handbook

Interested in joining a Book Award Committee?  APPLY HERE

Applications will be accepted through March 1st. 

Function: The Book Award Committees are tasked with annually formulating the SCASL Book Award Program nominee book lists.

In order to accomplish this they must each read 100 - 250 titles each year and then discuss and evaluate those titles at regular meetings. The result is each year’s carefully selected reading list in each of four categories: Picture Book, Children's, Junior, and Young Adult.  Librarians, teachers, and students across the state of South Carolina owe these committee members a big vote of thanks!

Composition: The Book Award Committee has an Executive Board Representative/Chairperson and Vice-Chair to oversee all award levels as well as Chair and Vice Chair positions for each sub-committee (Picture, Children’s, Junior, and Young Adult).  Each of the Book Award Committees can be made up of a cross-section of media specialists, teachers, students, parents, administrators, public librarians, and college or university representatives.

Chairperson: The Book Award Committee Chairperson (Executive Board Representative) is selected by the SCASL President in consultation with the outgoing Chair.  Contact: [email protected]

2025-26 Chairperson:  Marti Brown

2025-26 Vice Chair:  Lessie Bernshouse

2024-2025 Picture Book Award committee members: Elizabeth Ryan (Chair), Joanne Piazza (Vice-Chair), Konya Bing, James Bryan, Valerie Byrd Fort, Rhoda Coleman, Caroline Danysh, Jessica Flowers, Katy Fort, Jennifer Infinger, Elaine Park, Robert Blackwell, Rebekah Shilling, Neely Swygert, Amanda Youmans

2024-2025 Children's Book Award committee members: Lessie Bernshouse (Chair), Julie DenOuden (Vice-Chair), Eileen Conway, Margot David, Elizabeth Ford, Candice Godfrey, Kamryn Hurley, Tina Hurley, Emilia Jackson, Nicolas Jackson, Julianne Kaye, Kaylin Mixon, Melissa Mixon, Pennye Mock, Melissa Nicholson, Margaret Schwietert, Michelle Weaver, Barbara Zinkovich, Leslie Cooper, William Young, Teagan Holley

2024-2025 Junior Book Award committee members: Patti Barker (Chair), Carrie Courtney (Vice-Chair), Rebecca Adams, Ann Bennett, Heidi Benton, Starena Cusack, Jill Farr, Jennifer Fisher, Katie Garner, Amber Glessner, Mary Hall, Season Johnson, Noelle Mahmood, Jen Mandrell, Lechel Pitts, Randye Polk, Joanna Sargent, Rebecca Shelton, Ashley Silvera, Laura Ward

2024-2025 Young Adult Book Award committee members: Tiffany Rickey (Chair), Jordan Henry (Vice-Chair), Debb Adams, Jaden Banks, Madison Brown, Jenna(lee) Carson, Christian Price, Marie Davidsohn, Kennedy Eddings, Melissa Gilbreth, Katherine Gutteridge, LaTalia Heyward, Sonja Howard, Mary Beth Kelly, Heather Loy, Hannah McMurphy, Kay Mein, Stacey Merritt, Tenley Middleton, Helen Prince, Jasmine Prince, Lara Russell, Jennifer Neafsey, Miley Thomas

Meetings: The Book Award Committees meet five times a year: May, August, October, December, and March (at the Annual Conference).  In addition to the general meeting at the Annual Conference, Committee members are expected to participate in their Committee's presentation session at Conference.

2025 Meeting Dates: May 3, August 9, October 4, December 6, March 18-20, 2026 (Annual SCASL Conference)

The Columbia area meetings start at 10:00 am and usually last for about 2 hours.

**In addition to the PBA, CBA, JBA, & YABA presentation sessions held at the SCASL Annual Conference, a general SCBA session is held for new/returning members and anyone interested in learning more about the book awards program.  

Duties: See the Book Awards Handbook for a complete list of duties and responsibilities for all levels and positions of the Book Award Committees.  A few of the duties/responsibilities for book award committee members include:
  • maintain current membership in SCASL
  • attend four Columbia-area meetings each year.
  • attend the SCASL conference, be present at the appropriate booktalk sessions, and work in the Book Award section of the conference store.
  • submit book titles for the next year’s consideration list 
  • read the books on the list of books under consideration (between 100 – 250 titles depending upon the committee you serve) to narrow the list down to the top 20 best titles.
  • assist in the creation of an online resources for your committee's nominees, such as a book trailer and summary.
  • present a booktalk for at least one book at the annual SCASL conference.

Last updated: April 28, 2025