Notable Children's Recordings submission process

To submit works for consideration for the Notable Children's Recording List:

  • Review the terms and criteria below.
  • Send one copy of the work and a completed  Information Verification Form for each recording to the ALSC office (ATTN: Notable Children' Recordings, 50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611-2795).
  • Submit one copy of the work and a completed  Information Verification Form for each recording to the committee chair.  Email alscawards (at) ala.org for address information. 
  • Deadline for submitting works is October 31, 2012. The current committee is considering titles published between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012.

Terms and criteria

 Terms

  1. The Notable Recordings List is developed annually from recordings for children released in the United States during the preceding year. There are no limitations as to the number of titles nor the type of recordings included on the list.
  2. The committee, in its deliberations, is to consider only the recordings eligible for the List which:
    1. were released in the year preceding the Midwinter meeting during which the selections are made.
    2. are currently available through a U. S. distributor
    3. are available on audiotape and/or compact disc
    4. are produced in English. This requirement does not limit the use of words or phrases in another language where appropriate in context.

Definitions

  1. “Respects young people’s intelligence and imagination” indicates either the lyrics of music or the text of an audiobook. This also indicates that recordings to be considered are those for which children are a potential audience.  The recording exhibits respect for young people’s understandings, abilities, and appreciations. 
    Children are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen and recordings for this entire age range are to be considered.
  2. “Exhibits venturesome creativity” shall be recordings which provide an auditory experience that is appealing to children and that goes beyond the ordinary.
  3. The committee shall consider all forms of recordings – music, storytelling, informational, audiobook, book and recording combinations.  Reissues of previously recorded works are not eligible.
  4. “Released in the year preceding” means that the recording was released to the public in that year, was available for purchase in that year, and has a copyright date no later than that year.

Criteria

Recordings are evaluated on the following criteria:

  1. respects young people's intelligence and imagination
  2. exhibits venturesome creativity
  3. in exemplary ways reflects and encourages the natural interest of children and young adolescents
  4. depicts excellence through the effective use of voices, music, sound effects, and language
  5. maintains high standards in aesthetic and technical aspects
  6. adapted materials remain true to, expand, or complement the original work