Advancement of Literacy Award

Awarded 1984–2009. Sponsored by Library Journal. Discontinued in February 2009.

Definition and Criteria

This award recognized a publisher, bookseller and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group (that is, not an individual) which deserved national recognition for the advancement of literacy.

Criteria used for judging nominations included: (1) amount of support given to libraries for literacy projects; (2) evidence of long-term commitment to literacy; and (3) encouragement provided to other groups to undertake similar activity.

Past Recipients

2009 Project Read, San Francisco Public Library
2008 Mid South Reads (Tenn.)
2007 Jacksonville (Fla.) Public Library Foundation
2006 READ San Diego
2005 Verizon Foundation
2004 Elizabeth Fischer, Subrata De (producers), Tom Brokaw (news anchor) of Dateline NBC, NBC News for the one-hour documentary " A Loss for Words"
2003 Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities—Prime Time Family Reading Time
2002 Center for Literacy,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2001 The Providence Journal (R.I.)
2000 Starbucks Foundation (Seattle, Wash.)
1999 Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund and Mount Clemens Rotary Club [co-winners]
1998 Second Start Adult Literacy Program (Oakland, Calif.)
1997 Signal Hill Publications
1996 Illinois Secretary of State
1995 Warner Cable—Columbus Division
1994 California State Library Foundation
1993 Friends of Literacy through Libraries (Broward County, Fla.)
1992 Bell Atlantic Foundation
1991 Baker & Taylor
1990 Michigan Literacy, Inc.
1989 Project Plus
1988 Gannett Foundation
1987 Fearon Publications
1986 New Readers Press
1985 B. Dalton Bookseller