AWARDS 2017

Bringing Books to readers

LiBrary of the year

What the judges are looking forWe are looking for the best library in Britain. We want to celebrate libraries that support and encourage reading and which are vital parts of their local area. We want to see imaginative ways in which the library has drawn in new library users. And we want to see how individual librarians have contributed to the libraries success. And, whatever the funding, we want to see how you have managed in the current financial climate.

Who can enterIndividual funded public libraries or a library authority on behalf of its libraries. If you are entering as an authority then you will need to highlight the performance of individual libraries under your management. Community libraries; school, prison or academic libraries.

What to submitPlease submit a single PDF, of no more than 10 pages length, containing your written submission of up to 1,500 words addressing the requirements below. Attachments should be included with the PDF.

Evidence of innovations that have improved the public experience of your library, such as author visits, reading schemes, children’s events, homework clubs, working with local festivals or other outreach services

Evidence of year-on-year performance measures such as number of books lent, number of library users or number of new library members

Evidence of imaginative book purchasing, selection or presentation be that around national initiatives – e.g. British Book Industry Awards’ Books of the Year, Quick Reads, Man Booker Prize – or local community interests

Other guidance Judging period: January to December 2016

AWARDS 2017

independent Bookshop of the year

What the judges are looking forWe are looking for the British Isles’ favourite independent bookshops. These bookshops are hubs of their local communities. They are the ‘indies’ that have thrived through great service, in-depth knowledge, local connections, commitment, energy and imagination.

Who can enterAny independent bookshop in the UK or Ireland

What to submitPlease submit a single PDF of up to 1,500 words addressing the requirements below. Any supporting graphics should be included in the PDF which should be no more than 10 pages in total.

Evidence of innovations that have enhanced the public experience of your bookshop, such as author visits, book clubs, children’s events, working with local festivals, schools or other outreach services

Evidence of imaginative, and successful, book buying, outside the main prizes or national initiatives.

Evidence of smart marketing programmes you have taken to get more people into your shop – such as window displays, customer loyalty schemes, special offers or working with national campaigns like Books are my Bag, National Bookshop Day and Independent Booksellers Week

Evidence of year-on-year performance measures such as financial performance, number of books sold, additions to customer loyalty scheme or email newsletter list

Other guidance Judging period: January to December 2016

Chains (five branches or more) should enter Book Retailer of the Year

Small chains (fewer than five branches) should enter as individual shops not as a chain

Shops with a strong children’s book dimension may enter both Independent Bookshop of the Year and Children’s Bookseller of the Year

Shops that are selected for the regional shortlist will be encouraged to get their customers to leave supporting comments on a specific survey page on thebookseller.com

AWARDS 2017

ChiLdren’s BookseLLer of the year

What the judges are looking forThe judges are looking for the children’s specialist that has grown its sales and has demonstrated real dynamism in bringing in new young readers, sustaining the interest of children as they get older or helping reluctant readers.

Who can enterSpecialist children’s bookshops, independent bookshops with a strong children’s focus and the children’s departments of book chains, high street retailers, online/direct booksellers and supermarkets.

What to submitPlease submit a single PDF of up to 1,500 words addressing the requirements below. Any supporting graphics should be included in the PDF which should not exceed five pages in total.

Evidence of innovations that have enhanced children’s and parents’ experience of your bookshop, such as author visits, children’s events, working with local festivals, schools or other outreach services

Evidence of imaginative book purchasing or selection be that around national initiatives – e.g. Carnegie or YA Book Prize – or local /specialist interests

Evidence of smart marketing programmes you have taken to get more people into your shop – such as window displays, customer loyalty schemes, special offers or working with national campaigns like World Book Day

Evidence of year-on-year performance measures such as financial performance, number of books sold

Evidence of outreach activities, for example to local schools, that you believe have helped promote the pleasure of reading in young people

Other guidance Judging period: January to December 2016

AWARDS 2017

Book retaiLer of the year

What the judges are looking forWe are looking for the large-scale book retailers that have shown both great results for the judging year and clear evidence of how their efforts have created success beyond the obvious best sellers.

Who can enterUK or Irish national book chains; online/direct booksellers; book departments of High Street retailers and supermarkets. For the purposes of this category, a chain is defined as having five or more branches.

What to submitPlease submit a single PDF containing your written submission of up to 1,500 words addressing the requirements below. Any supporting visuals such as window displays should be included in the PDF, which should not exceed 10 pages in total.

Financial results such as margin growth, profits, turnover and like-for-like performance

Book sales results based around internal figures and/or external data (e.g. Nielsen)

Evidence of imaginative, and successful, book buying outside the main national initiatives and major prizes

Examples of your own-branded initiatives to raise the profile of particular books or genres and evidence of your success in boosting sales

For physical retailers, examples of how you have used the in-store environment creatively and effectively

Examples of schemes, or processes, that have increased customer loyalty to your company/store and, where data is available, have increased overall book purchasing

Other guidance Judging period: January to December 2016

Indexed figures permissible where actuals are not legally permissible but in both cases UK & Irish breakdowns are required

High Street/other retailers for which book sales are non-core are encouraged to enter Non-Traditional Retailer

The winners of Independent Bookshop, Children’s Book Retailer and Non-Traditional Retailer of the Year will be added to the shortlist for this Award

AWARDS 2017

non-traditionaL retaiLer of the year

What the judges are looking forJudges are looking for retailers who have used their existing strengths/position to create a significant book sales operation. We are especially looking for quality of curation, merchandising and promotion as well as enthusiasm and innovation to drive book sales.

Who can enterAny physical retailer or online/catalogue operation for which book sales are an important, but not primary, part of the retail strategy.

What to submitPlease submit a single PDF containing your written submission of up to 1,500 words addressing the requirements below. Any supplementary material such as photos of window or in-store displays should be included in the PDF which should not exceed five pages in total.

Evidence of a distinctive approach to book selection tied into physical location or customer demographics

Performance results for the book element of your business expressed via book sales data or financial results

Evidence of how those in charge of book sales have increased senior management’s commitment to books’ profile in-store/online

Evidence of working with publishers to find and curate the best and most appropriate content for your customers

Other guidance Judging period: January to December 2016

Book departments of supermarkets should enter Book Retailer

Indexed figures permissible where actuals are not legally permissible but in both cases UK & Irish breakdowns are required

AWARDS 2017