TD Summer Reading Club Library Awards
About the TD Summer Reading Club Library Awards
Beginning in 2007, the TD Summer Reading Club Library Awards will recognize and reward each year the most innovative and effective TD Summer Reading Club programs in local public libraries1 across Canada.
Separate awards will be presented for the English and French summer reading programs.
The objective of the Library Awards is to promote excellence in summer reading programs by:
- celebrating the creativity of library staff who administer successful TD Summer Reading Club programs;
- promoting community partnerships that strengthen children's reading skills; and
- encouraging the sharing of information among public libraries across Canada so that they can further develop exemplary summer reading programs.
Perhaps even more important, the long-term goals of the TD Summer Reading Club and the Library Awards are to:
- improve children's literacy and reading habits; and
- make public libraries a vital part of children's lives.
Each spring a panel of three judges, in each language category, will assess entries with the most effective outreach strategies and creative implementation of the TD Summer Reading Club program in the previous summer.
The TD Summer Reading Club Library Awards are sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group, which is committed to supporting children across Canada with literacy and learning programs. Library and Archives Canada will act as the national coordinating agency of the awards.
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Prizes and honours
First prize winners in each language will receive:
- $5,000 to be invested in their public library branch
- an honorary plaque
- national recognition through a press release
- the opportunity to be VIPs at the awards ceremony
They will have the opportunity to share their success stories with the library community at a workshop and on the program website
Second prize winners in each language will receive:
- $2,000 to be invested in their public library branch
- an honorary plaque
- national recognition through a press release
They will have the opportunity to have their success stories published on the program website
Winners will be announced at public library related conferences.
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Who is eligible to apply?
- The applicant must be a local public library with a unique service point or a public library branch that is registered with the TD Summer Reading Club.
- The applicant must have offered the TD Summer Reading Club program in its local branch for a minimum of six weeks during the previous summer.
- The applicant must be prepared to promote its TD Summer Reading Club program and share its success strategies through workshops and/or on the program website.
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How to apply
- Print out and complete the application form [PDF 76 KB]
- Write a program description (1,200 words maximum) that demonstrates the innovation and effectiveness of the public library branch's TD Summer Reading Club program. Entries will be assessed for their effective outreach strategies and for their creative program implementation, based on all of the evaluation criteria for application.
- Include supporting documentation to substantiate your application. Documentation can include photographs, letters, drawings, book reports, news articles, printouts of website pages, newsletters, promotional materials, newspaper clippings or other appropriate materials.
Only paper copies of the applications will be accepted. Please send your application by mail or courier, to:
Library and Archives Canada
TD Summer Reading Club Library Awards
395 Wellington Street, Room 196
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4
Applications must be received by February 15, 2008.
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Evaluation criteria for application
Applicants will be evaluated according to all of the following evaluation criteria for application. The program description and supporting documentation must provide evidence that the public library branch:
- followed the general guidelines for the TD Summer Reading Club, and used the program materials provided;
- offered the TD Summer Reading Club program for at least six weeks, but preferably nine weeks;
- developed innovative outreach strategies, and invited various groups of children or involved community groups (e.g., 4-H Clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs, community centres, summer camps) in the age group targeted by the library branch;
- gave children access to materials (books and other media), of various genres and at different reading levels, that were geared to their interests and experiences;
- regularly scheduled, publicized and carried out TD Summer Reading Club events and activities;
- involved community partners in the TD Summer Reading Club program and publicly acknowledged their support. Include copies of your promotional materials or media coverage showing how partners were acknowledged;
- used creative techniques to actively engage children in the TD Summer Reading Club (include supporting materials); and
- completed and submitted the TD Summer Reading Club Statistics and Evaluation Form.
For more information, please contact your provincial or territorial coordinator.
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Selection Committees
- Library and Archives Canada will supervise an independent administrator who will coordinate two selection committees, one committee for each language.
- The administrator will select a nationally recognized panel of three judges for each selection committee.
- The judges will be chosen from the fields of children's literature and librarianship, literacy or education.
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1. Local public library refers to a unique public library service point. This document also uses the term public library branch.
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