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Acronyms You Need to Know
by Sue Alexander"Congratulations!" your editor calls to say, "Your book is getting a starred review in SLJ." Unless you know what the acronym SLJ stands for, the conversation isn’t going to be the satisfactory one that both you and your editor want it to be.
The publishing industry and its related fields abound with acronyms. Unless someone translates them, you can wander through many fields of endeavor, wondering why you are there. But you really should know the acronyms that pertain to books for young people. For instance, if you are asked to speak at NCTE or NAEYC, you will need to know who your audience will be. Or you will certainly want to know which organization put your book on its Notable List.
Following are the most used acronyms—and their translations. Where possible I've included the organization's Web site URL so you can get more information.
ABA -- American Booksellers Association
A not-for-profit association of independently owned bookstores. They sponsor Book Sense— which includes the Book Sense 76 and bestseller lists. They host the annual ABA Convention with BookExpo America. www.bookweb.org
AJL -- Association of Jewish Libraries
An association that promotes Jewish literacy through libraries and library services. Their Annual Convention is in June. They sponsor the Sydney Taylor Book Awards and the Sidney Taylor Manuscript Award. A committee of the Sidney Taylor Awards publishes an annual list of Notable Children’s Books of Jewish Content. www.jewishlibraries.org
ALA -- American Library Association
The most important association of librarians from all over the U.S. and its possessions. They have two annual events—the Midwinter Meeting in January at which awards are announced and the Annual Conference in late June at which the awards are presented. www.ala.org
ALSC -- Association of Library Service to Children
A division of ALA—this is the division that awards the Newbery & Caldecott Medals, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, the Mildred Batchelder Award, the Pura Belpre Award, the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, and hosts the Correta Scott King Book Awards. ALSC publishes an annual Notable Children's Books list—an important purchasing tool for librarians.
BCCB -- Bulletin of the Center for Children';s Books
Emanating from the University of Illinois, this is one of the important review journals for children's and young adult books. Annually, they publish the Blue Ribbons—a list of what they believe are the best of the previous year's literature.
CBC -- Children's Book Council
A non-profit trade organization whose purpose is to encourage the use and enjoyment of children's books. Their members are U.S. publishers and packagers of books for children and young adults. CBC is the official sponsor of Children's Book Week and Young People's Poetry Week. Their office holds an examination library—all the children's and young adult books published within the prior two years. www.cbcbooks.org
CCBC -- Cooperative Children's Book Center
This Center is at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and is, next to the Children’s Book Council, the largest children’s and young adult book examination center in the country. They administer the annual Charlotte Zolotow Award for picture book text. http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/zolotow.asp
CLA -- California Library Association*
The state chapter of the American Library Association. This organization has conferences and workshops throughout the state several times a year, with their big convention in November. One year the convention is in Northern California. The next in Southern California. In 2005 it will be in Southern California. Along with CRA, CATE and CSLA, they sponsor the California Young Reader Medals. www.cla-net.org
*CLA -- Catholic Library Association
Another CLA. As the name indicates, the members are librarians from Catholic schools. Their Annual Convention is in the spring. They sponsor the Regina Medal. www.cathla.org
CLC -- Children's Literature Council of Southern California
An organization of librarians, authors, illustrators and others involved with literature for children and young adults in Southern California. At their Fall Gala, they present book awards to Southern California authors and illustrators. Among their awards are the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry and the Dorothy C. McKenzie Award. www.childrensliteraturecouncil.org
CRA -- California Reading Association
The state affiliate of the International Reading Association. Their Annual Conference is in November, and the locale alternates between different California cities. In 2005 the Conference will be in Fresno. Along with CLA, CATE (California Association of Teachers of English) and CSLA, they sponsor the California Young Reader Medal. www.californiareads.org
CSLA -- California School Library Association
Their State Conference is in November and alternates between Northern and Southern California. Their workshops (mini-conferences) are held in both Northern and Southern California, usually in March. The 2005 Conference will be in Sacramento. As noted previously, they are among the co-sponsors of the California Young Reader Medal. www.schoollibrary.org
f&g’s -- folded and gathered sheets
This is the term used to describe an unbound book. The large press sheets have been printed, cut and folded and are ready to go to the bindery. You may receive a set of f&g's a few months before your book's publication date.
IBBY -- International Board on Books for Young People
An international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together. They have a biennial Congress which meets in different countries each Congress. In September of 2004 the Congress will be in South Africa. They sponsor the Hans Christian Anderson Awards, International Children’s Book Day and—biennially—issue an IBBY Honour List of books from their member countries. The United States section of IBBY is USBBY. www.ibby.org
IRA -- International Reading Association
A professional organization for teachers and librarians world-wide. Their Annual Convention is held in a North American City each Spring—April or May. They sponsor the Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award, the IRA Children's Book Awards and the Paul A. Witty Short Story Award. A special interest group of the IRA has as a project Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books. www.reading.org
NAEYC -- National Association for the Education of Young Children
The largest organization of Early Childhood educators. Their annual conference is in the fall. www.naeyc.org
NCTE -- National Council of Teachers of English
As the name indicates, these are teachers at every grade level—from elementary school through college. Their Annual Convention is in November of each year. They sponsor the NCTE Award for Poetry for Children—given every three years, and the Orbis Pictus Nonfiction Award—given annually. www.ncte.org
SLJ -- School Library Journal
This is the most circulated—and therefore the most powerful—review journal for children's and young adult books. SLJ reviews more books than any other journal in the field. They also review audio tapes, films, etc.—all related to learning or books. Each December they publish a list of the year's Best Books.
YALSA -- Young Adult Library Service Association
A division of ALA—this is the division that awards the Michael L. Prinz Award, the Margaret A. Edwards Award and publishes an annual list of Best Books for Young Adults.
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