Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Zora Neale Hurston Award, a RUSA award presented annually to an individual RUSA member who has demonstrated leadership in promoting African-American literature.

Founded in 2008 and sponsored by HarperPerennial, the award is given to the nominee who has developed a project of outstanding quality and significance that promotes African-American literature and highlights its rich history and diversity. Projects may include, but are not limited to a program, display, collection building efforts, a special readers’ advisory focus, or an innovation in service. In addition, the candidate’s project should serve as a model for others, must be innovative and/or should advance service in this area.

In addition to honoring contributions to this important body of literature, the Zora Neale Hurston Award provides support for the winner’s professional development so that he or she can continue to build multicultural collections and serve diverse populations. To that end, the winner receives a cash prize of $1,250 to support participation in the ALA Annual Conference, tickets to the Literary Tastes Breakfast and the ALTAFF Author Tea, and a set of the Zora Neale Hurston books published by HarperPerennial.

Interested candidates must submit a nomination letter that describes their project. Photos, booklists, screen captures, or other forms of illustration of the project must be included. In addition, candidates should submit a brief, 250-word essay explaining how attending the annual conference will help further their efforts to support and promote African American literature. Self-nominations are welcome. All nomination materials should be submitted electronically in MS Word or PDF format to Bergis Jules, award committee chairperson, at bjules@uchicago.edu. All nominations must be received by December 1st.

The winner will be honored at the RUSA Awards Ceremony on the Monday of the ALA Annual Conference, next scheduled for Jun. 24-29, 2010 in Washington, D.C.