The Library of Congress Literacy Awards, 2013-2017: Finalists and Best Practices

Abstract

Stories abound across countries and nationalities and have always been a way to teach young and old about country and culture. Stories can be historical, fictional and factual and they can now appear in multiple formats and delivery modes. They provide a means to teach and develop foundational literacy skills. Book awards, therefore, are an important way of promoting literacy across the globe and highlighting the work of past, current and upcoming authors. They also provide a vehicle for recognising best practices, innovation and creativity. This paper examines the Library of Congress literacy awards and their impact on literacy efforts by organizations around the world.