Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has announced today that the Bookbug Hero Award and the Learning Professional Award 2020 are open for applications.
Brand new this year, the Bookbug Hero Award has been created by Scottish Book Trust and will be run in association with Walker Books. The award will honour someone working with Bookbug who has used the Programme to make a real different to the lives of the young children, families and communities they work with.
Scottish Book Trust is asking people across the country to nominate a librarian, early years worker, volunteer, health visitor, or anyone who uses Bookbug in their work for the inaugural Bookbug Hero Award. The winner will receive a bundle of picture books worth £500 from Walker Books.
Nominations are also open for the Learning Professional Award, now in its fourth year, which recognises a teacher or librarian who has had a powerful impact on the reading culture of young people and adults in their community.
School teachers and librarians across Scotland are urged to nominate inspiring colleagues who are passionate advocates of reading and writing in their place of work, for the award which will be presented at an event in April 2020. In partnership with Browns Books for Students, the winner will receive £500 worth of books for their school or library to help them continue their outstanding work.
Deena Wren, last year’s Learning Professional Award winner, said: “I was extremely surprised and very honoured to receive the Learning Professional Award. It has been a huge opportunity to promote the work of school librarians more widely.
“Ultimately though, the fact that the nomination had initially come from my colleagues and pupils continues to mean the most to me. I would genuinely encourage anyone who wishes to highlight the work of their talented co-worker not to hesitate to put in their nomination!”
Marc Lambert, CEO at Scottish Book Trust, said: “At Scottish Book Trust, we work with so many passionate partners, and these awards allow us to celebrate their hard work. Every year, we uncover so many inspiring stories, and we encourage those who know a book-loving champion to highlight their great work.
“We are particularly excited to introduce a new award celebrating those who work so tirelessly with our Bookbug Programme across the country. Many thanks to Walker Books and Browns Books for Students for making these awards possible.”
Karen Lotz, Group Managing Director at Walker Books, said: “At Walker we appreciate the influence extraordinary individuals can have in supporting communities to grow their reading culture, and as such we’re delighted to get behind any initiative that celebrates and applauds these individuals.
“Scottish Book Trust’s programmes have a huge impact on families and young people, and the vast array of practitioners who help implement them do stellar work, so we are thrilled to support the Bookbug Hero Award.”
Browns Books for Students also support the Outstanding Achievement Award. Last year’s winner was writer and illustrator Theresa Breslin, recognising her thirty year long career as an advocate for children’s literacy and libraries.
Claire Smith, Sales Manager for Browns Books for Students, said: “Browns Books for Students is proud to be able to support Scottish Book Trust’s Learning Professional Award for the fourth year.
“As a specialist educational supplier we love hearing about the impact of successful reading projects, and this award represents a rare opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding and inspirational work undertaken by Scottish teachers and librarians each and every day.”
Nominations for both awards close on 15 November, and can be made online at www.scottishbooktrust.com/sbta
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