Former Jackson resident serves on John Newberry Medal committee

Former Jackson resident Kris Springer served as one of 15 committee members on the 2006 John Newberry Medal award selection committee.

Springer is the daughter of Bernice and John Springer of Jackson.

Only one book receives the Newberry Medal award of distinction made annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The books judged by the committee were published in 2005.

ALSC provides committee member names and addresses to the publishers, who decide which potential Newberry Medal winners to send them for consideration. Self-published authors also submit their work. With an estimated 800 titles to read, it is hard but gratifying work, she said.

Springer is a 1988 Jackson High School graduate and a 1993 Southeast Missouri State University graduate who started her library career at the Cape Girardeau Public Library circulation desk. She later as a paraprofessional in children's services.

She furthered her education at Indiana University of Bloomington, Ind., where she received a master's degree in library science specializing in children's services. It was at the Cape Girardeau Public Library that she discovered she could make a difference by inspiring children with the right reading material.

As the children's services manager at St. Joseph County (Ind.) Public Library, Springer's commitment to be more involved in her specialized area led her to serve on the American Library Association children and technology committee. The experience was such a positive one that it led to her apply for Newberry committee membership.

Springer launched a mock Newberry club for children at her library to help them discover how books become labeled as distinguished and to further motivate children to read "Criss Cross" by Lynne Rae Perkins which won the 2006 Newberry Medal award.

It was one of the selections made by the mock Newberry club for children at St. Joseph County Public Library.

Books that receive the Newberry medal are considered as a contribution to literature, not for "didactic intent" or popularity. Authors must be residents or citizens of the United States submitting original work. Books must have a publication date in the preceding year, have been available for purchase in that year and have a copyright date no later than that year.

Books originally published in other countries are not eligible.

Committee members consider the interpretation of the theme; presentation of information including accuracy, clarity and organization; development of a plot; delineation of characters and setting and appropriateness of style. They are not expected to find excellence in each of the named elements but must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience of ages up to and including age 14.

The award, first awarded in 1922, was named for 18th-century British bookseller John Newberry.