Special Topics - Promoting Muslim Authors and Awards

Compared to mainstream literary awards, such as the Pulitzer, Newberry, National, Hugo, Guardian and Nobel (just to name a few), Muslim literary awards is a fairly new concept.  I researched five literary awards (one was an academic award so will not be in this summary) pertaining specifically to Muslim authors and provide a brief history of each. I then compared these to GoodReads and found that many of the authors and their books had been either nominated or awarded a GoodReads Choice Award in their various genres. I concluded my paper with a few ideas on how libraries can promote these books and authors to all readers, not just those of the the same diverse background.

• The Arab American Book Award (AABA) was established in 2006 by the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn “to inspire authors, educate readers and foster a respect for and understanding of Arab American culture {by recognizing} books written by and about Arab Americans” (AABA website).  Winners and honorable mentions are presented annually in the following five categories: Academic Adult Non-Fiction, Creative Adult Non-Fiction, Adult Fiction, Poetry, and Fiction or Non-Fiction Children/Young Adult.
• The Middle East Book Award (MEBA) was created in 1999 by the Middle East Outreach Council “to recognize books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to understanding of the Middle East” (MEBA Website). The primary difference between the MEBA and AABA is that  authors do not have to be Arab Americans. Winners and honorable mentions are presented annually in the following three categories: Picture Books, Youth Literature, and Youth Non-Fiction.
• Daybreak Press, associated with Rabata, “provides a platform for women writers in a variety of literary genres and academic fields, by publishing and promoting work that encourages positive cultural change” (Rabata Website). The Daybreak Book Awards was established annually to recognize their individual and important work in up to twenty-seven categories.  A few of the 2019 awards were given in the following categories: Poetry, Picture Book, Book Series, Activity Books, Non-Fiction Islamic, Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction Biography/Memoir, YA Fiction, Islamic Fiction, Best Cover Design, and Best Illustrations.
• The Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APAAL) was established by the Asian/Pacific American Libraries Association (APALA) in 2001 “to honor and recognize individual works of Asian/Pacific American experiences (either historical or contemporary) or Asian/Pacific American cultures by Asian/Pacific Islander American authors and illustrators” (APALA Website).  The award is given in one of five genres: Adult Fiction/ Graphic Novel, Adult Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children’s Literature, or Young Adult Literature.

There have been so many books published just within the past five years written by (mostly) young Muslim authors, coincidentally the majority of them being women, born and raised in either Canada or the United States.  With March being Women’s History Month, this is the perfect opportunity for libraries to promote these novels in their various genres - Adult Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, YA, Children’s, and Picture Books, just to name the most popular.  This year, International Women’s Day is March 8 and for this libraries should display books written by Muslim women authors from other countries. Since this day is falling on a Sunday, libraries should consider having the display for a few days, not just the one, to garner more publicity.  In 2017, March 27 was declared Muslim Women’s Day and since then has been become a strong online movement (Lyons, Bustle; Scott, CNN).  This year, Muslim Women’s Day falls on the last Friday of the month, so libraries should have their displays promoting Muslim women authors from then until the end of the month.  Throughout the month posters, flyers, banners, and bookmarks should be placed at strategic locations within the library. In the various sections/rooms, such as the main circulation desk, children's room and tween/teen areas, pertinent posters, flyers, banners, and bookmarks should be displayed promoting books and authors of their respective ages.  At every checkout, a bookmark should be placed with the return slip. The library website should have a banner promoting the month with a slide show of the various books and the library program catalog should also have a page promoting the month. FaceBook and Twitter should be used to promote the books and any programming during this month If possible, the library should try to get an author to speak about her book. An author who has written in multiple genres for different ages would be the best way to promote this growing niche.

Works Cited:

Arab American National Museum. (2020). Arab American Book Award. Retrieved from
http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/bookaward

Asian/Pacific American Libraries Association. (2020). Literature Award Guidelines & Nominations.
Retrieved from http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/literature-awards/literature-award-guidelines/

Lyons, Joseph D.  (March 26, 2018). Why is March 27 Muslim Women’s Day?  Bustle.
Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/p/why-is-march-27-muslim-womens-day-the-date-celebrates-
this-marginalized- community-8603055

Middle East Outreach Council.  (2018). Middle East Book Award.  Retrieved from
http://www.meoc.us/book-awards.html

Rabata.  (2019). Daybreak Press.  Retrieved from https://www.rabata.org/daybreakpress/

Scott, Katy. (March 26, 2018).  Why Amani Al-Khatahbeh created Muslim Women’s Day.  CNN.
Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/26/middleeast/muslim-girl-amani-al-khatahtbeh/index.html

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