Santa Monica, California –Santa Monica Public Library is pleased to announce that in 2008 it will award the second annual Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, sponsored by the City of Santa Monica’s Environmental Programs Division and the Santa Monica Public Library.  Four Green Prizes will be awarded in October 2008 in the following categories: Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Youth Fiction, and Youth Nonfiction.

The Green Prize was created to encourage and commend authors, illustrators, and publishers who produce quality books that make significant contributions to, support the ideas of, and broaden public awareness of sustainability.  Sustainability is defined as “meeting current needs – environmental, economic and social – without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same” (“Sustainable City Plan,” City of Santa Monica). Winners of the 2007 Green Prize are listed at www.smpl.org/greenprize.htm.

Books published in the United States during the 2007 calendar year are eligible for the Prize.  Publishers, authors, librarians and the public are encouraged to submit titles for consideration.  Criteria include effective presentation of material; distinctive literary quality; and originality of scholarship.  Youth titles to be considered should have potential for classroom use and be appropriate for students in grades K-12.

Titles may be submitted for consideration by following guidelines on the Santa Monica Public Library website at www.smpl.org/greenprize.htm.  Books from publishers and authors or titles suggested by the public must be submitted by March 31, 2008.  From the initial application process, a selection committee consisting of librarians and local authorities on sustainable issues will choose a group of finalists.  The winning titles, which demonstrate outstanding achievement in their respective categories, will be selected from this group and announced at a presentation ceremony that will take place in Santa Monica in October 2008.  The exact presentation date will be announced in Summer 2008.