IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award

The IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award recognizes non-profit institutions or groups that help promote reading among children. The biennial event marked its 23rd occasion in 2016. The Award consists of a diploma and a sum of US$10.000, which will be given to each winner to encourage its activities in the future.

History

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)'s international congresses are held biennially and hosted by a different National Section every two years. In 1986, the 20th occasion of the event was held in Tokyo. IBBY's activities inspired the Asahi Shimbun newspaper company to initiate an award to honor the activities of groups or institutions that have implemented different projects to distribute books and promote reading among children and young people. To commemorate the 20th IBBY Congress in Tokyo, the award was established in 1987 and the first winner, Banco del Libro (Venezuela) received its prize in 1988. Since then, the award was presented to one group every year until 2004. Since 2006, two organizations received the award every two years. After 2016, the award will be presented to one organization every two years at the IBBY World Congress.

Process

Nominations are submitted by the National Sections of IBBY and may include reading promotion projects from any part of the world. The prize is awarded for a specific project. The proposed project should be original and innovative which aims at reaching disadvantaged young people. The nominated projects should give the evidence that the prize money would make a significant contribution to the project.

The IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award Jury consists of up to six members of the IBBY Executive Committee. The winners are announced at the IBBY press conference at the Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy. In the same year, the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award Ceremony is held in the coming IBBY World Congress where Representatives of the winning projects are asked to make a presentation at the Congress and they receive their prize which consists of U.S. $10,000 and a diploma.

The nominations are judged according to the following criteria:

• How well does the project support IBBY’s Mission?
• Is there existing or possible support for the project from other funding sources?
• Has the project been in existence for at least two years prior to its nomination? Is the project sustainable? Does it provide a framework for growth?
• What is the impact of the project? Does it reach its stated target audience?
• Is the project original and innovative?
• Can the project provide a model for others? Is it easily replicated? Are any printed materials available and are they of high literary quality?
• Can the results of the project be evaluated?

Award Winners