Serving on a Nutmeg Book Selection Committee is a great experience! Before you make a decision about applying, however, there are several things that you need to take into consideration.
Serving on any of the committees is a huge commitment.
The High School 9-12 Committee will read between 60-90 books (target audience grades 9-12).
The Middle School 7-8 Committee will read around 80 books (target audience grades 7-8).
The Intermediate 4-6 Committee will read 110-130 books (target audience grades 4-6).
The Elementary 2-3 Committee will read about 125 books (target audience grades 2-3).
The Selection Chairperson compiles the lists and sends committee members the first list in January or February. You will then have a steady pace of required reading through November. Committee members are responsible for obtaining their own copies of the books.
As a committee member you will be expected to read all the books on the lists, whether they suit your tastes or not. This can be difficult. If you don’t like a book right at the start you must at least give it a good try.
Four to five meetings are held during the selection process. The Chairperson selects the sites, dates and times of the meetings. Meetings are usually on a weeknight or Sunday afternoon/evening and most meetings run for two hours. Depending on where you live, it could be a short or long drive (committee members are from all over the state).
Please know attendance is an important part of the Selection Committee process. Members should plan to attend ALL THE MEETINGS. At the meetings the merits of each book are discussed and a lively debate is part of the process. To help with this discussion and to keep meetings moving along, members are encouraged to participate in online discussions (possibly via a private wiki site, google site, Goodreads group, Facebook group, etc.) throughout the reading process. At the last meeting in November, the committee will meet and choose the final ten nominees, along with alternate titles. It is the most important meeting and usually the longest.
If you are unable to keep up with the reading, are absent from more than 2 meetings or not participating in the on-line discussions, you may be asked to leave the committee.
The librarians and teachers on the committee are devoted to helping young people connect with quality fiction. If you have participated in the Nutmeg program in the past, you realize that the books you help to select will be read by many students across the state of Connecticut. You should feel free to express ideas and opinions that are your own and you will make a valuable contribution to the selection of Nutmeg nominees.
Selection Committee members must be a member or willing to become a member of either Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL) or Connecticut Librarian Association (CLA).
You may not serve on a Committee for more than two consecutive years.
Taking into account the above information, please decide if this is a challenge that you are suited for and if it is, please apply to be a volunteer!
Applications are due by November 15, 2021
If you have any questions, please contact:
Alessandra Petrino
apetrino@westonct.gov Nutmeg Book Award Secretary
Lisa Polack
librarylisap@gmail.com Nutmeg Book Award Outgoing Secretary
Kristen Finnegan
kfinnegan9300@gmail.com 2022 Nutmeg Book Award Steering Chairperson