American Library Association Notable Book lists are announced yearly by the American Library Association

American Library Association

The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....

 (ALA). There are two lists, one for Adults and one for Children.

The ALA Notable Books for Adults (established 1944) list is selected by the Reference and User Services Association

Reference and User Services Association

Reference and User Services Association is a division of the American Library Association chartered to stimulate and supporting excellence in library reference and user services. RUSA awards a number of medals and honors to promote its goals of excellence in its field and publishes an annual list...

 (RUSA), a division of the ALA. Within RUSA, a 12-member Notable Books Council selects "25 very good, very readable, and at times very important fiction, nonfiction, and poetry books for the adult reader."

The ALA Notable Books for Children (established 1940) list is selected by the Association for Library Service to Children

Association for Library Service to Children

The Association for Library Service to Children is a division of the American Library Association. Its members are concerned with the profession of children's Librarianship...

 (ALSC), a division of the ALA. Within ALSC, a Selection Committee "identifies the best of the best in children's books." According to ALSC policy, the current year's Newbery Medal

Newbery Medal

The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...

, Caldecott Medal

Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...

, Belpré Medal

Belpre Medal

The Pura Belpré Award is a recognition presented to a Latino or Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays the Latino cultural experience in a work of literature for children or youth. It was established in 1996. It has been given every other year since 1996...

, Sibert Medal

Sibert Medal

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001 with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., is awarded annually to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the...

, Geisel Award

Geisel Award

Established in 2004, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is given annually to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year. The winner receive a bronze medal at the ALA Annual Conference...

, and Batchelder Award books automatically are added to the Notable Children's Books list.

External links

• Notable Books for Adults, RUSA website.
  • The Lists, of ALA Notable Books for Adults.
• Notable Books for Children, ALSC website.
  • The Lists, of ALA Notable Books for Children.