Book Sense Book of the Year Voting an Egalitarian Process

In a significant change from previous years, this year all employees of ABA member bookstores are eligible to cast their votes for the 2005 Book Sense Book of the Year in the streamlined balloting process announced earlier this month. ABA member booksellers and staff can now cast their votes via an online ballot. Stores do not have to participate in the Book Sense marketing program to be eligible to vote. Only one ballot per person will be accepted, and only books published in 2004 are eligible.

The 2005 Book Sense Book of the Year ballot includes titles most often nominated by booksellers for the Book Sense Picks lists in 2004 in the categories of Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Children's Literature, and Children's Illustrated. There is also space for write-ins in each category.

The title receiving the most votes in each category will be designated a Book Sense Book of the Year. The next four titles with the highest number of votes in each category will be designated Book Sense Honor Books.

In addition to the online ballot form, booksellers can download a ballot in PDF format to mail or to fax to ABA. A ballot is also being distributed in the January Red Box (sent to Book Sense stores only).

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by February 21, 2005, and received at ABA by February 28, 2005. Faxes and electronic ballots must be received by midnight on February 28, 2005.