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Nominating a Garden Book for the AHS Book Award
The process for having a garden book considered for the
American Horticultural Society (AHS) Annual Book Award is
quite simple. If your book meets the requirements described
below, simply forward one copy of the book to each member of
the AHS Book Award Committee—names and addresses of the committee
members can be obtained by e-mailing
webmaster@ahs.org.
For each book that you nominate for the award, fill out one
copy of the nomination form
(click here for PDF file of the form)
and send the form and one
copy of the nominated book to Viveka Neveln, the liaison to the AHS
Book Award Committee. There is no limit to the number of books any one
publisher can nominate for the award.
The nomination deadline is
December 31, 2007.
Requirements for consideration for the AHS Annual
Book Award:
-
Books must be published in
the calendar year before the award year (books currently
being accepted are those published in 2007).
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Books must be originally issued by North
American publishers.
-
Book authors must either
reside principally in North America or their work
must demonstrate familiarity with, and sensitivity to,
gardening conditions, plant choices, and design aesthetics
relevant to American gardeners
-
Books must be original
editions or have been significantly revised and updated.
Key
characteristics used in judging books for the AHS Book
Award:
Books are judged on overall
quality including writing style, art, design, and quality of
production —for this reason awards are presented to
publishers rather than to authors.
-
Authority.
Books should represent real depth and breadth of
horticultural expertise and experience.
-
Utility,
clarity, and accuracy.
Books should be thorough, accurate, clearly
cross-referenced, and have excellent indexing. These are
particularly important characteristics in reference works.
-
Writing
style.
Books should be well written and readable. Original,
opinionated, and passionate writing styles are encouraged.
-
Physical
quality.
Books should be well made, with sturdy binding, legible
type, durable paper, and an intelligent and aesthetically
pleasing layout.
Other
qualities considered in selecting award winners:
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Geographical diversity.
Books should address—and celebrate—the horticultural needs
and contributions of different regions of North America.
-
Trailblazers
Books that address new or little covered horticultural
topics, or which address more common topics in a fresh or
innovative manner.
-
Seminal
and historical works that reflect our horticultural
heritage.
Special consideration is given to innovative or well-written
books that document the horticultural and gardening heritage
of North America and/or the people who have made major
contributions to North American horticulture.
-
Writers
who enrich our awareness and understanding of the natural
world.
Special consideration is given to books that inform and
educate readers about the complex interactions between
plants and animals, sensible and responsible methods of pest
control, environmental problems, or threats to our
horticultural heritage.
If you have questions about
the American Horticultural Society’s
Annual Book Award Program, please contact:
Viveka Neveln, AHS Book Award Committee Liaison,
The American
Horticultural Society,
7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. FAX:
(703) 768-7533.
E-mail: vneveln@ahs.org
7931 East
Boulevard Drive - Alexandria VA 22308
(V) 703.768.5700 - Toll Free: 1.800.777.7931
(F) 703.768.8700 - Publications Fax: 703.768.7533
Copyright © 1998-2008 American
Horticultural Society. All rights reserved.
Requests for permission may be submitted to
webmaster@ahs.org. |
