Each year, two or three students are chosen out of all the applicants from around the state to be members of the High School 9-12 Nutmeg Book Award Selection Committee. Serving on this committee is a challenging yet rewarding experience for the student readers and it is a privilege to be chosen. You get to do one of your favorite things (read!), then discuss the books with others who love to read as much as you do. Before you make a decision about applying, however, there are several things that you and your parents need to take into consideration.
*You need to currently be in 10th or 11th grade.
*Serving on this committee is a huge commitment. The High School Committee will read between 70-90 books (target audience grades 9-12). The Selection Chairperson compiles lists of 20-40 books and sends committee members the first list sometime in January or February. From the day you receive that first list you will be reading on the average of two books a week until October. That means 350 to 400+ pages a week for 38 to 40 weeks.
*Committee members are responsible for obtaining their own copies of the books. Most committee members rely largely on libraries: your local library, those in nearby towns and through the interlibrary loan service that is available in every Connecticut library.
*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 do not like a book right at the start you must at least give it a good try.
*Four to five meetings (the number is determined by the chair) 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). It will be up to your parents to see that you attend these meetings. If you are unable to attend you must let the Chairperson know and also submit your preferences from the current list, with reasons for your choices. However, please know attendance is an important part of the Selection Committee process. Students should plan to attend all of the meetings.
*At the meetings the merits of each book are discussed. Lively debate is part of the process. It helps if you are comfortable talking about books in a room with about 13 adults (and only 1 other student).
*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.
*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.
*At the last meeting in November, the committee stays until the final ten books are chosen, along with alternate titles. It is the most important meeting and usually the longest (and the committee usually sends out for pizza!).
The librarians and teachers on the committee are devoted to helping young people like you to 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 will express ideas and opinions that are your own and will make a valuable contribution to the selection of Nutmeg nominees.
Taking into account all the above information, you and your parents can decide if you are up to the challenge. The fact that you are even considering it is a tribute to your reading ability and maturity.
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