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News from CILIP
Friday 5 May 2006
For immediate release  (Please copy to online discussion lists)

The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2005 - Shortlist Announcement

Four Former Winners Do Battle With One Newcomer For Coveted Medal

Five outstanding children's novels feature on the shortlist for the 2005 CILIP Carnegie Medal, announced today.  Of the authors in the running, Jan Mark, has won the Medal on two previous occasions, whilst David Almond, Frank Cottrell Boyce, and Geraldine McCaughrean have each won the medal once before (Cottrell Boyce was the 2004 winner for his debut novel "Millions"). Newcomer Mal Peet is also shortlisted for his second novel.

"This is a strong year for young people's novels," says Chair of the Judges, Teresa Scragg.  "The judges were totally unanimous in selecting these five books from a longlist of 45 nominations.  It is exciting to see the quality of work emerging from relatively new writers such as Cottrell Boyce and Peet, alongside the consistently high standards set by established writers like Almond, McCaughrean and Jan Mark, who tragically died earlier this year.  The real battle is yet to come.  Although extremely varied in terms of subject matter and style, the quality of writing in all five is exceptional and it will undoubtedly be a challenge to select just one winner."

The CILIP Carnegie shortlist amply demonstrates the sheer breadth of imaginative writing for young people today.  Three of the novels explore serious issues in a highly accessible way with subject matter ranging from the mental health prejudices of 1960s Newcastle, to a human survival fantasy that deals with the pain of adolescence, to the dramatic effect on the present when past events are unlocked. 

In a more light-hearted vein, there is a wry and humorous look at the havoc wreaked by unsuspecting adults on children's lives; and a comic novel which centres on the discovery of a Renaissance masterpiece in a disused slate mine in a tiny Welsh village.

The prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal is the UK's longest established book award for children's writing, and will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2007.  It is awarded annually for an outstanding book for children and young people and the list of past winners represents a roll call of the great writers of the 20th and 21st centuries:  Eleanor Farjeon, Anne Fine, Elizabeth Goudge, CS Lewis, Mary Norton, Philip Pullman, and Noel Streatfield to name but a few.

The Medal's process of selection and judging is unique.  No submissions are sought from publishers, no votes cast by the public; rather the selection process is rooted in the professional expertise of librarians across the country, who nominate titles for the long list.  To be eligible for this year's Medal, books must be published between 1 January and 31 December 2005.  

The judging panel, which comprises 12 highly experienced children's and school librarians from CILIP's Youth Libraries Group meets to agree on a shortlist of up to eight titles. Members of the panel combine an in-depth knowledge of books with daily experience of working and reading with young people.

The Carnegie Medal and its sister award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, are awarded annually by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.  The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the British Library London on Friday 7 July 2006. 

The CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlist 2005 (announced 2006) 

DAVID ALMOND 			Clay 
Hodder Children's Books 	Age range:  11 years +		
ISBN:  0340773847

FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE 		Framed
Macmillan Children's Books	Age range:  9 years + 		
ISBN:  1405048581 

JAN MARK	 			Turbulence
Hodder Children's Books	 	Age range:  12 years +	
ISBN:  0340860995

GERALDINE McCAUGHREAN 		The White Darkness
Oxford University Press		Age range:  12 years + 		
ISBN:  0192719831

MAL PEET 				Tamar
Walker Books 			Age range:  12 years +
ISBN:  0744565707


**Timetable Change 2006 - 07**


In order to respond to the needs of schools, public libraries, book retailers and publishers, the awards timetable will change in 2007.  The CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals will be awarded for books published between 1 January and 31 August 2006; the shortlist will be announced on 16 April 2007 and the ceremony to announce the winner held on 22 June 2007.  (Please see Editors' Notes below)


Notes for Editors

Over 2,600 reading groups in schools and public libraries have registered to take part in the shadowing scheme for the awards, involving over 50,000 children and young people.  For further information visit www.ckg.org.uk/shadowing 

The CILIP Carnegie Medal celebrates its 70th Anniversary in 2007.  Plans for the Anniversary will be announced later in 2006.

Timetable change:  CILIP wishes to increase public awareness of the Medals and is responding to the needs of both publishers and booksellers in creating a longer schedule for the shortlisting.  From next year the schedule will allow time to reprint shortlisted titles when necessary and to distribute promotional materials to both public libraries and retailers before the shortlist announcement.

CILIP Carnegie & Greenaway New Timetable 2006 - 2007

Eligible books published between		1 January & 31 August 2006
Open for nominations				1 September 2006 
Close of nominations				3 November 2006
Shortlisting					January 2007 
Shortlists announced				16 April 2007
Ceremony & winners announced 			22 June 2007

CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers.  It forms a community of around 35,000 people engaged in library and information work, of whom around 23,000 are CILIP Members and around 12,000 are regular customers of CILIP Enterprises.  CILIP members work in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries.  For more information about CILIP, please go to www.cilip.org.uk

The Youth Libraries Group (YLG) is a Special Interest Group of CILIP. It works in a "pressure group" role, independently and with other professional organisations, to preserve and influence the provision of quality literature and library services for children and young people, both in public libraries and school library services.

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