Arizona Center for the Book
About the Arizona Center for the Book
The Arizona Center for the Book at the Arizona State Library sponsors programs that highlight the state’s literary heritage and call attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy and libraries.
The Arizona Center for the Book is an affiliate of the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Starting in 1984, the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress began to establish affiliate centers in the 50 states. Today, there is a State Center for the Book in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Arizona Center for the Book at the Arizona State Library received its designation on January 2, 2004.
Celebrate the Women's Suffrage Centennial
On August 18, 2020 it will be 100 years since the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave American women the right to vote. To celebrate the centennial, the Arizona Center for the Book @ the Arizona State Library has assembled a list of books exploring the history of women's suffrage for readers of all ages. State Library staff, Arizona librarians and members of Questers International helped compile the list, which can be a resource for collection development as well as book discussion groups.
If you have any questions, please contact Donna Throckmorton, Library Services Consultant, at [email protected].
Arizona Center for the Book Programs
Please click on any of the following links to find more information regarding the Arizona Center for the Book programs:
- Early Literacy Library Programs
- Letters About Literature
- Literary Landmark
- National Book Festival
- Southwest Books of the Year
- Summer Reading Library Programs
- Writers in Residence in Libraries
Early Literacy Library Programs
Did you know that 90% of a child's brain develops by age five? The Arizona Center for the Book supports Early Literacy programs in libraries that help young children develop the skills they need to read during this foundational time for learning. By connecting with organizations like First Things First and Read On Arizona, the Arizona Center for the Book empowers parents and caregivers to be their child's first teacher and prepare children to read.
Visit your local library to learn more about early learning programs in your area.
Letters About Literature
Letters About Literature is a reading and writing contest for students in grades 4-12. Students are asked to read a book, poem or speech and write to the author (living or dead) about how the book affected them personally. Letters are judged on state and national levels. Students can participate through their school, or they can enter the contest individually by submitting a letter. Watch this space for the Arizona winners to be announced this spring.
Congratulations to the winners of Letters About Literature 2019!:
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Level I - Makenzie Gutierrez, Gilbert, wrote to Tiffany Papageorge, author of My Yellow Balloon
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Level II - Jeston Zenko, Chandler Heights, wrote to Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables
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Level III - Raelyn Dickinson, Chandler, wrote to R.J. Palacio, author of Wonder
Literary Landmark
A service of United for Libraries, a Literary Landmark™ is the designation for any special location in a community that is tied to a deceased literary figure, author or his or her work. Arizona’s first Literary Landmark was dedicated in honor of author Barbara Park at the Cherokee Elementary School in Paradise Valley.
National Book Festival
The Library of Congress National Book Festival is an annual literary event that brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities. Over its 19 year history, the National Book Festival has become one of the pre-eminent literary events in the United States. The Arizona Center for the Book takes its place each year in the Parade of the States, and offers activities and literacy-linked items such as Rings of Rhymes and Southwest Books of the Year guides.
Discover Great Places Through Reading. The Arizona Center for the Book has selected The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne to represent Arizona at the 2019 National Book Festival.
Southwest Books of the Year
Southwest Books of the Year highlights outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction that feature a southwestern setting or subject. The publication is produced by Pima County Public Library and the Arizona Center for the Book helps distribute up to 12,000 copies of the publication to public, tribal and academic libraries outside Pima County.
Summer Reading Library Programs
For information on Arizona's Online Summer Reading Program, check out Arizona Summer Reading. For other summer reading programs, visit your local library.
Writers in Residence in Libraries
The Writers in Residence program promotes writing in communities by connecting local, professional authors to serve as Writers in Residence at public libraries. Writers in Residence spend time at the library during their residency composing new works and providing education for community members. For a full description of the program, please see the guidelines.
Applications for the Grant program are due at 11:59 PM, November 8, 2019.
Got questions? Check out this informational webinar. A former Library Development staff member and two previous Writers in Residence discuss how the program how the program has run in the past, how to approach authors about being a Writer in Residence, how to set your program up for success, and answer your questions.
For questions not covered here or in the webinar, contact Jaime Ball at [email protected] or 602-542-6266.
Important Dates
- Grant Application Due: November 8, 2019
- First Residency: February 3, 2020-April 30, 2020
- Second Residency: May 1, 2020-July 31, 2020
- Final Report Due: August 28, 2020
