The Eliza Atkins Gleason Book Award is presented by the Library History Round Table of the American Library Association every third year to recognize the best book written in English in the field of library history, including the history of libraries, librarianship, and book culture.
The award bears the name of Eliza Atkins Gleason, the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago. Her book, The Southern Negro and the Public Library (Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 1941), traced the history of library service to African Americans up to that time and laid the foundation for all other histories of that aspect of library service.
Entries for each triennial award must have been published between January 1 and December 31 of the three years preceding the award year. Bibliographies and edited collections will not be considered. Entries are judged on quality of scholarship, clarity of style, depth of research, and ability to place research findings in a broad social, cultural, and political context. One award will be given every third year. If a suitable candidate is not found, the award will not be presented for that three-year cycle. *Exception for the 2004 award: Because of special circumstances, books published in 2000 will be eligible.*
The Gleason Book Award Committee, a subcommittee of the Research Committee of the Library History Round Table, serves as jury for the award.
Nominations are welcome from all interested parties and should include a brief statement explaining why the book is worthy of consideration for the Gleason Book Award. Nominations, received by January 15, 2010, should be sent to:
Thomas A. Bolze
Gleason Award Committee Chair
Yale University - Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscripts Library
PO Box 208240
New Haven, CT 06520-8240
Applications must be received by January 15, 2010. Receipt will be confirmed with 3 business days.
Presentation of the Award
The winner will be announced in a press release on or about June 1st of the award year. Certificates honoring the author and publisher of the Gleason Book Award winner will be presented at a Library History Round Table awards ceremony during the American Library Association Annual Conference in the year of the award.
To see previous Gleason winners