And the winners are .....
Paintings, Weapons, and Crematoria Architecture all featured among this year's ISG(CLILP)/Nielsen award winners!
The full list of titles nominated will be published on the CILIP website - it emphasises how wide and varied the range of reference works printed and published electronically in Britain each year continues to be.
At the Awards Ceremony, held for the second time at the Library and Information Show, NEC, Birmingham, the 2006 winners were announced. Valerie Nurcombe, Past Chair of ISG and Ian Snowley, President of CILIP introduced the proceedings, and guest speaker Professor Sheila Corrall gave a brief speech. Amanda Duffy, Chairman of the printed category judging panel, announced the results of the judging, and Sheila Corrall and Ian Snowley presented the certificates, prize money, and medals as appropriate. Valerie Nurcombe then read out the citations for the electronic category, and again Sheila Corrall and Ian Snowley presented the certificates, prize money, and medals as appropriate. Amanda Duffy then returned to announce the winner of the Walford Award, which was also presented by Sheila Corrall and Ian Snowley.
The Awards, which are judged by a panel of expert librarians, have been rewarding excellence and promoting awareness of outstanding reference products since 1970. They consist of The Besterman/ McColvin Medals for both printed and electronic works of reference and the Walford Award, for an individual who has made a sustained contribution to bibliography.
The Reference Awards are organised and administered by the Information Services Group of CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. They are sponsored by Nielsen BookData, the market leaders in provision of information and e-commerce services for the book industry worldwide.
Printed Category
Winner: Dictionary of Pastellists before 1800, by Neil Jeffares, published by Unicorn Press.
"The comprehensive coverage is presented in a very useable and attractive way. The range and content of the indexes is impressive and the highest standards of book production have been successfully employed. It is not only a major contribution to the study of pastel painting but also significant in the understanding of the development of the portrait in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. A major achievement and an incomparable reference and research source."
Commended: Weapon: a visual history of arms and armour, edited by Richard Holmes, published by Dorling Kindersley.
"This excellent 'picture as information' book has illustrations that are clear, well sized and in exceptional detail and they are accompanied by engaging and information captions. The scope is comprehensive and the book is extremely good value for money. It is a book for both the specialist and the lay person."
Commended: Death Redesigned: British Cremation - history, architecture and landscape, by Hillary Grainger, published by Spire Books.
"Death Redesigned examines the special historical, social and cultural conditions that lie behind the 251 crematoria in Britain. The buildings, some by leading architects, often display real architectural merit, and many are set in gardens representing the very finest traditions of twentieth-century landscape design. An illustrated gazetteer provides comprehensive information about each site. It will become a standard reference work within its field."
Electronic Category
Winner: Oxford African American Studies Centre, published by the Oxford University Press.
"Although based upon printed sources, and therefore not entirely original work, it does not depend upon mainly pdf files and the transport of information from the printed sources to the electronic format has been handled well, giving the information a high level of accessibility. All in all a notable effort."
Highly Commended: The Statute Law Database, authored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and published by HM Government.
"It is very clear from looking at this database that it will make a huge difference to the ease with which librarians and public can search for legislation."
Commended: The Business Eye Directory of Business Support Services, published by the Welsh Assembly Government.
"The scope and coverage of the site was comprehensive and the quality of the information was good. The news area is updated on a daily basis, and all the documents were up-to-date, and the links were well worked out and all worked."
The Walford Award for sustained and continual contribution to the science and art of bibliography
Winner: Diana Dixon
During her long and successful career, Diana Dixon has specialised in adding to the art and science of bibliography in Britain. Her nominator included a list of her many and varied publications, which is far too long to give here. Diana has continually augmented a well-respected body of written work of which any author could be justly proud. Diana has not only published bibliographical treatises, but she has promoted the discipline whilst supporting the CILIP Local Studies Group and its committee and also NEWSPLAN 2000. Over this period she was asked to be a member of a specific council initiated by the British Library Newspaper Library that discussed matters relating to newspaper provision and digitisation.
Notes to Editors
CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
CILIP is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers, with around 22,000 members working in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries. For more information about CILIP, please go to www.cilip.org.uk.
CILIP Information Services Group
ISG supports members' interests in the provision of information services by promoting activities that improve the effectiveness of information provision to all sectors of society. The ISG liaises with all bodies within the information profession which are concerned with information transfer to promote a wider understanding and appreciation of the importance of information work, within our profession and more widely within the industry. ISG hopes to extend its training programme, particularly in the area of continuing education and to stimulate and develop new ideas through the exchange of information. ISG has recognised expertise in specific areas, such as official publications, as well as a publications programme, including the journal Refer. Geographical coverage is through regional sections offering visits, seminars and other local events. Its cross-sectoral appeal is reflected in current membership from all types and sizes of library and information unit. For further information go to www.cilip.org.uk/groups/isg/isg.html.
Nielsen BookData
Nielsen BookData is proud to sponsor the ISG (CILIP)/BookData Reference Awards for the fifth year running. We believe this award allows us to recognise and reward excellence in reference material across the library and information industry ensuring that reference professionals are fully appreciated for their commitment and contribution to our industry. BookData is the leading provider of information services to libraries and library suppliers worldwide. We create and maintain timely, accurate and unique content-rich records for English-language books and other published media, collected from publishers in over 70 countries. We then disseminate this information to public, academic and corporate libraries and library suppliers via a range of professional subscription services. BookNet, a division of BookData, provides transactional services including EDI messaging, allowing the industry to trade electronically. For further information on any of our services please contact Paul Dibble, Head of Data Sales, on 0870 777 8710 or by email libraries@nielsenbookdata.co.uk.
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Updated: 24 January 2008