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The National Book Awards have been at the forefront of literary prestige for over 75 years, annually celebrating the best in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature.
Overseen by the National Book Foundation—a nonprofit organization that, beyond administering the Awards, seeks to promote and expand access to books across the nation—today we’ll be spotlighting some news that will broaden their impact.
Editor's Note: Please note that David Steinberger, CEO of Open Road Integrated Media, LLC, and parent company of Early Bird Books, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Book Awards.
Earlier today, Ruth Dickey, the Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, announced major changes to the Foundation and Awards on the Open Book Podcast. From its onset, the Foundation has sought to bring literature to underserved communities—and with its new five-year strategy, will continue to do just that, and much more.
At a time when arts organizations are experiencing cutbacks, Ruth highlights how we, as a reading-loving community, must speak up for books. 2024 marked 75 years since the inaugural Awards ceremony first took place in 1950—and since then, the Foundation has reached its milestone of giving away over 2.4 million free books to children, families, and public housing communities across the country.
Staying steadfast in their mission to connect communities with literature—even in the face of uncertainty—the Foundation announced a new mission. Over the next five years, they will continue to celebrate the best of literature in the United States while connecting books with readers of all ages—guided by the enriched philosophy that literary arts are an integral part of our culture.
What will that look like? For adults, the Foundation will host 125 co-curated literary events in diverse cities across the country, including at least 10 in communities it has not previously reached.
Meanwhile, for young people, it will expand its free books program in public housing collectives, aiming to distribute more than 1.5 million books across 72 communities nationwide.
The teacher fellowship, which launched in 2023, will also continue to grow, offering support to 6th- to 12th-grade teachers through innovative practices. With the aim of reaching 40 teachers and 4,000 students, the Foundation will also focus on book-banning hotspots—because literacy is power.
Finally, for the Awards—which Ruth highlights as what the Foundation is probably best known for—you’ll be able to stream the ceremony at home!
Celebrating books and the people who write them is an incredibly valuable part of our culture, and the Foundation wants to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be involved—from the ceremony to within your community, and beyond.
Featured image: iStock
