Category Archives: General

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MN Book Awards Announces Finalists

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library is pleased to announce the finalists in all eight categories for the 25th Annual Minnesota Book Awards, sponsored by Marvin Windows and Doors. Chosen on Saturday, January 26, by 24 judges from around the state – writers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and others from the literary community – the finalists for each category are:

Children’s Literature, sponsored by Books For Africa: A Leaf Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija (Millbrook Press/Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.)
It’s a Tiger! by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Jeremy Tankard (Chronicle Books)
Tell Me About Your Day Today by Mem Fox, illustrated by Lauren Stringer (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Waking Dragons by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Derek Anderson (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, Inc.)

General Nonfiction, sponsored by Minnesota AFL-CIO:

Debating the End of History: The Marketplace, Utopia, and the Fragmentation of Intellectual Life by David W. Noble (University of Minnesota Press)
Forward: The First American Unsupported Expedition to the North Pole by John Huston and Tyler Fish (Octane Press)
Holding Our World Together: Ojibwe Women and the Survival of Community by Brenda J. Child (Viking/Penguin Group)
Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life by David Treuer (Atlantic Monthly Press/Grove/Atlantic, Inc.)

Genre Fiction, sponsored by Marvin Windows & Doors:

Curse of the Jade Lily by David Housewright (Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press)
The Devil and the Diva by David Housewright and Renee Valois (Down and Out Books)
Ruth3:5 by Michael Fridgen
The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)

Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, sponsored by Leonard, Street and Deinard:

Letters to a Young Madman by Paul Gruchow (Levins Publishing)
Life on Ice: 25 Years of Arctic Exploration by Lonnie Dupre (Keen Editions)
My Mother Is Now Earth by Mark Anthony Rolo (Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works by Atina Diffley (University of Minnesota Press)

Minnesota, sponsored by Meyer, Sherer & Rockcastle (MS&R):

Every Man Did His Duty: Pictures & Stories of the Men of the First Minnesota by Wayne D. Jorgenson (Tasora Books)
Lost Duluth: Landmarks, Industries, Buildings, Homes, and the Neighborhoods in Which They Stood by Tony Dierckins and Maryanne C. Norton (Zenith City Press/X-Communication)
The Minnesota Book of Skills: Your Guide to Smoking Whitefish, Sauna Etiquette, Tick Extraction, and More by Chris Niskanen (Minnesota Historical Society Press)
Mni Sota Makoce: The Land of the Dakota by Gwen Westerman and Bruce White (Minnesota Historical Society Press)

Novel & Short Story:

The Healing by Jonathan Odell (Nan A. Talese/Random House, Inc.)
It Takes You Over by Nick Healy (New Rivers Press)
The Round House by Louise Erdrich (Harper/HarperCollins Publishers)
Vladimir’s Mustache and Other Stories by Stephan Eirik Clark (Russian Life Books)

Poetry, sponsored by Wellington Management, Inc.:

The First Day of Spring in Northern Minnesota by Jim Johnson (Red Dragonfly Press)
Odessa by Patricia Kirkpatrick (Milkweed Editions)
Pitch by Todd Boss (W. W. Norton & Company)
Salt Pier by Dore Kiesselbach (University of Pittsburgh Press)

Young People’s Literature, sponsored by Sit Investment Associates:


Goblin Secrets by William Alexander (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Nothing Special by Geoff Herbach (Sourcebooks Fire/Sourcebooks, Inc.)
Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus (Amulet Books/Abrams)
Silhouette of a Sparrow by Molly Beth Griffin (Milkweed Editions)

Award winners will be announced at the 25th Annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala on Saturday, April 13, at the Hilton Hotel, in downtown Minneapolis.  The opening reception begins at 7 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $45 and are available by calling 651-222-3242 or click here for more information.

Two special awards for contributions to Minnesota’s literary and artistic community will be given on April 13, as well.  Jana Pullman will receive the sixth annual Book Artist Award, sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group and presented with the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA). Pullman’s primary artistic work in the book arts is in the area of design bindings. An exhibit and free reception featuring her work will be held on Friday, February 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the Cowles Literary Commons at Open Book.

The Kay Sexton Award, sponsored by Common Good Books, honors a lifetime contribution to the literary community, and the 2013 winner will be announced in late February. The Award is presented annually to an individual or organization in recognition of long-standing dedication and outstanding work in fostering books, reading and literary activity in Minnesota. It is named for Kay Sexton, a book buyer for many years at Dayton’s and B. Dalton Bookstores in the Twin Cities.

Count down to the Gala Awards Presentation and learn more about the finalists on our 32 Books in 32 Days blog, beginning March 12 for this year’s finalists.

Take a trip back through the 25 years since the Minnesota Book Awards began on our 25 Years in 26 Weeks blog.

Meet the Finalists, Friday, March 15, 2013, 7 p.m. at Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S, Minneapolis. The Minnesota Book Awards partners with the Loft Literary Center to present the 2013 finalists. Each participating author will conduct a brief presentation on their nominated title. Reception with refreshments to follow. Free and open to the public.

For additional information on the 25th Annual Minnesota Book Awards or the Gala, please call 651-366-6497.  The Minnesota Book Awards is sponsored by Marvin Windows and Doors and presented by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library.  Generous support for the Book Awards has been provided by the Harlan Boss Foundation for the Arts; Huss Foundation; Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation; and The McKnight Foundation, as well as the City of St. Paul’s Cultural STAR program. Outreach partners and supporting organizations include: The Loft Literary Center; Metropolitan Library Services Agency (MELSA); Minnesota Center for Book Arts; Minnesota Department of Education—State Library Services; Minnesota Educational Media Organization; Minnesota Library Foundation; and Saint Paul Almanac.  Media sponsors include the Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com; MPR ; Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN); and TPT–Minnesota Channel.

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Recommended Ed Tech Tool: Creaza

creazaCreaza made the list of 20 Education Technology Tools Every Teacher Should Know About! It is used by students and teachers and comes in a free demo version, and a premium version. This tool is web-based, and you use it through your browser.

According to the Creaza site, this tool  offers you an integrated, web-based toolbox for creative work, both at school and in your spare time.  You can use the toolbox along with various fully developed thematic universes:  historical periods, fairy-tales, fantasy worlds, and current challenges, such as climate change/environmental issues. You can combine these themes with your own uploaded content.

Creaza integrates professional and user generated content, creative tools and a social network in a new and clever way. Are you already using Creaza? Share the how and why with us in the comments area!

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist

Free Places Online to Learn

Top 10Have you noticed the increase in online resources that are readily available and free to use? The offerings seem to be literally exploding. It is hard to keep track of all of the sites, but if you are looking for a handy little list of 10, The CEO Under Thirty site has done a good job of pulling a list together. The list starts with Khan Academy and iTunes U, but can you guess the other eight? Check out 10 Places to Learn for Free and let us know in the comments which are your favorites. Were there any surprises for you?

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Legislative Update

The following information is provided by Elaine Keefe, our MLA/MEMO legislative lobbyist….

politicsGovernor’s Budget:  Governor Dayton released his budget proposal on Tuesday.  There were no changes in library-specific appropriations.  However, the Governor did recommend some increases in broader appropriations that may ultimately have an impact on libraries. They are:

1) An increase of $80 million per year in aid to cities and an increase of $40 million per year in aid to counties.  This could impact public library funding at the local level.

2) An increase of $80 million over the biennium for the University of Minnesota and $80 million over the biennium for the University of Minnesota.  This could impact academic libraries in those two systems.

3) An increase of $118 million over the biennium in the general education formula for K-12 schools and an increase of $125 million over the biennium for special education (thereby freeing up general education dollars that are currently used by school districts to pay for special education).  This could impact the funding available to school library media centers.

Testimony:  On Thursday the Senate E-12 Education Budget Division held a hearing where education organizations were invited to present their platforms.  I presented the portions of the MLA/MEMO Platform that are under the jurisdiction of that committee.

State of the State:  Governor Dayton will deliver his State of the State Address before a joint session of the Legislature on February 6 at 7pm.

Committee Deadlines:  Legislative leaders have announced that committee deadlines are as follows:

The first committee deadline is Friday March 15.  To meet this deadline, a bill must have passed through all of the policy committees it needs to go to and have been referred to a finance committee or to the floor in either the House or the Senate.

The second committee deadline is Friday, March 22.  To meet this deadline, a bill must meet the standard for the first committee deadline in both the House and the Senate.

The third committee deadline is April 19.  This is the deadline for omnibus budget bills to be passed out committee.

Elaine Keefe
Capitol Hill Associates
525 Park Street, Suite 310
St. Paul, MN 55103
office 651-293-0229
fax 651-293-1709
cell 612-590-1244
elaine@capitolhillassoc.com