Be part of history, become a Carnegie Awards Judge
Are you a librarian or library worker who is passionate about children's books and reading? Have you considered becoming a judge for the UK’s oldest and best-loved children's book awards, celebrating outstanding writing and illustration? Many past judges describe the experience as being the highlight of their careers.
The following YLG Regions are seeking to appoint a judge to represent their branch on The Carnegies judging panel for 2026 and 2027:
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
East Midlands
Applicants should live or work in the regions they are applying for. Vacancies for other regions across the UK will be advertised in 2025.
Members of the awards judging panel will judge the Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Carnegie Medal for Illustration.
CILIP is committed to championing diversity, inclusion and representation within the awards, and particularly welcomes applications from people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTQ+, people with experience of disability and male candidates, who have historically been under-represented on the judging panel.
Experience of working with children and young people and/or a knowledge of children's books is key - as is the capacity to participate fully in judging and the wider award processes.
Candidates should be librarians or library workers and must be willing to become CILIP members and be prepared to join CILIP's Youth Libraries Group (YLG) if not already members on appointment. However, as part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, CILIP has opened applications to the Awards Judging Panel to non-CILIP member library workers from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Non-members will be given YLG membership for their two-year tenure on the judging panel.
CILIP believes representation and diversity within children’s books is vital, and that every child should have the opportunity to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the books they read. We recognise that a representative panel of judges is integral to ensuring a broad range of perspectives, experiences and voices feed into and help to inform the judging process for the country’s oldest children’s book awards.
Download the full job description and person specification here.
Benefits of being a judge
Becoming a judge for the country’s oldest children’s book awards provides many great opportunities for CPD, including:
- Networking with authors, illustrators, publishers and library professionals
- Training and support in assessing outstanding writing and illustration
- Free books delivered to your door.
How to apply
Please complete our online application form by 11 October 2024.
Apply now: https://fs3.formsite.com/cilip/CarnegiesJudge/index.html
Please also complete our diversity monitoring form online here: https://fs3.formsite.com/cilip/CarnegieJudgeDiversity/index
Contact
If you have any questions or for more information, please contact the Carnegies Executive, Jake Hope, at Carnegies.Executive@cilip.org.uk.