Andrew Carnegie Medals Press Kit

Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, were established in 2012, and recognize the best of the best in fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. the previous year. The awards serve as a guide to help adults select quality reading material. They are the first single-book awards for adult books given by the American Library Association and reflect the expert judgment and insight of library professionals who work closely with adult readers. Nancy Pearl, librarian, literature expert, NPR commentator, and best-selling author of “Booklust” serves as chair of the awards’ selection committee.

A shortlist of finalists is announced each spring from 50 titles drawn from the previous year’s Booklist Editors’ Choice and RUSA Notable Books lists. Along with a medal presentation at ALA’s annual conference in Chicago, IL, on June 30, each winning author will receive $5,000 and the four finalists will each receive $1,500.

The awards are made possible by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York in recognition of Andrew Carnegie’s deep belief in the power of books and learning to change the world, and are co-sponsored by ALA’s Booklist publications and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).

Press Releases

ALA unveils finalists for 2013 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction

Longlist for 2013 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction announced

RUSA’s 2013 Notable Books List announced; outstanding fiction, nonfiction and poetry for adult readers

2013 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction Finalists


This Is How You Lose Her By Junot Díaz Published by Riverhead Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.	The Round House By Louise Erdrich Published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publisher	Canada By Richard Ford Published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

2013 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalists


Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis By Timothy Egan Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt	The Mansion of Happiness: A History of Life and Death By Jill Lepore Published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc.	Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic By David Quammen Published by W. W. Norton & Company