Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Catalogue Awards

About the Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Catalogue Awards These awards are given annually in recognition of excellence in the publication of catalogues and brochures that accompany exhibitions of library and archival materials, as well as for electronic exhibitions of such materials. They are administered by the Exhibition Awards Committee of the ALA/ACRL Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS), whose operating expenses are covered by a generous endowment from Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab, editors of American Book Prices Current.

Administered by:

Award and Frequency

A printed citation to be presented to the winning institution organizing the exhibition.

This award is given out on an annual basis.

Eligibility

Catalogues must be issued between September 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020. Electronic library and archival exhibitions are limited to those with stable URL addresses that were initially released between September 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020. Electronic exhibitions submitted for consideration should be available online through September 2021, to allow adequate time for public views.

The entries will be divided into five categories: expensive, moderate, inexpensive, brochure, and electronic exhibition. The five categories shall be determined by production costs as outlined in the entry form. The budget categories will be defined by the committee according to the range of costs of catalogues submitted. Catalogues may be of varying formats, styles, and scope, e.g., an inclusive list of items in an exhibition, a selective list, or a narrative with some specific citations. Publicity materials, collections of essays, and other publications lacking specific references to displayed objects as such are not eligible.

Application Instructions

Printed catalogues and brochures: Four (4) copies of the catalogue or brochure must be submitted with accompanying entry forms. Electronic exhibitions: Only the entry form is required, though the committee encourages submission of CDs or DVDs for the Leab Award archives. All submissions should be addressed to the Emma M. Sarconi, Chair of the Exhibition Awards Committee, esarconi@princeton.edu.

All catalogue submissions become the property of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS), and are archived at the Bancroft Library, University of California; the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin; and the Grolier Club, New York, N.Y.

Further information about the awards, guidelines and rules for submission, and online entry forms are available at http://rbms.info/committees/exhibition_awards/.

Questions concerning the awards and the submission process should be directed to Emma M. Sarconi, Chair of the Exhibition Awards Committee, esarconi@princeton.edu.

Deadline: Postmarked by January 1, 2021

Contact Information

Selection Criteria

Catalogues will be judged on originality, accuracy of detail, informational content, visual impact, contribution to scholarship, and usefulness to the intended audience.