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21st Annual NEMBA

The 21st annual Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards (NEMBA) will be presented at a public celebration in May, 2009. The celebration will include a featured speaker, book fair and refreshments.

The UMD Library Communication and Events team announces several changes to the Awards this year. The number of award categories has increased from four to six and a $25 entry fee is required for each nominated title.

Nominations:

Nominations may be submitted in one of six categories:

(1) General Nonfiction: nonfiction works such as history, biography, guidebooks, cookbooks, books about science and nature, and scholarly works.

(2) Fiction: novels, short stories, plays, and other works of narrative fiction.

(3) Art, Photography: books that primarily serve to showcase (and annotate) the visual art contained in them.

(4) Children's Literature: books of any type intended for children and young adults.

(5) Poetry: collections of poetry or a single poem of book length.

(6) Memoir and Creative Nonfiction: books that examine some aspect of the world from a highly personal perspective whether in the form of a memoir, personal essay, or other work of creative nonfiction.

Reading teams will choose a winner and honorable mention in each category. If a book is nominated in more than one area, the UMD Library Communication and Events Team will determine the category for the entry.

Eligibility Requirements and Entry Guidelines:

The subject matter of nominated books must substantially represent northeastern Minnesota in the areas of history, culture, heritage, or lifestyle. For the purpose of the awards, northeastern Minnesota includes the following counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis.
Nominated books must have a 2008 publishing date. Books with a 2007 copyright that were not published and available until 2008 may be submitted in the 21st annual NEMBA. A written explanation for why a book with a 2007 copyright is eligible must be submitted along with the nomination form.
Nominated books must have been written in English and published in bound paper format.
One copy of each nominated book must be submitted along with an entry form.
A $25 entry fee is required for each nominated book; checks or money orders only, made payable to the UMD Library.

Deadline for Entry: February 1, 2009

Send a completed nomination form, one copy of each nominated book and a $25 fee, checks or money order only, for each title to:

UMD Library
Attention: Brenda Bonnema
416 Library Drive
Duluth, MN 55812

Telephone: 218-726-6843
Fax: 218-726-7481
Email: bbonnema@d.umn.edu

Nominations must be postmarked or delivered to the UMD Library by the due date.

Prizes:

The winning author in each category will receive a cash prize of $200. The winning author and the honorable mention in each category will receive a glass plaque.

Awards Presentation:

Winning and honored authors will be announced at a reception on the UMD Campus in May, 2009.

New NEMBA Book Seals now available!

Presented by the UMD Library
416 Library Drive
Duluth, MN 55812
218-726-8102

& Friends of the Duluth Public Library

in collaboration with The Lake Superior Writers