Hello Friends!

Once again, IBPA is looking for book industry professionals with the credentials to serve as judges for the 29th Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards, the most prestigious book awards program available to independent publishers and self-published authors. We are looking for judges capable of judging both print and digital books. See http://ibpabenjaminfranklinawards.com and http://www.ibpa-bfda.org. We hope you're interested in applying!

The implicitly understood, deeply-held convictions that guide the spirit and nature of IBPA staff, board of directors, and volunteers (including our much appreciated Benjamin Franklin Award judges) are:

TRUST: moral, respectful, consistent
SERVICE: compassionate, caring, capable of "tough love"
LEADERSHIP: decisive, influential, professional

This "29th Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards - Judges' Survey" was developed to help us find the best possible judges for our program. Starting early August 2016, we will let everyone know if they've been chosen to judge this year's program. We will assign categories at this time, as well.

Thank you for your interest in serving the independent publishing community through IBPA's Benjamin Franklin Awards program. We appreciate you!

Angela Bole
IBPA Chief Executive Officer 

Terry Nathan
IBPA Chief Operations Officer

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* 1. Full Name:

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* 2. Title:
(If retired, enter "Retired - [Previous Title]" where [ ] is your most recent professional title.)

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* 3. Company:
(If retired, enter "Retired - [Previous Company]" where [ ] is your most recent employer.)

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* 4. Physical Mailing Address:
(If you are chosen to judge the print book program, this is where we will mail the books for review.)

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* 5. Email Address:

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* 6. Phone Number:

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* 7. Have you previously judged for IBPA's Benjamin Franklin Awards (either print or digital)? If so, for how many years?

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* 8. Are you interested in judging print books, digital books, or both?

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* 9. Are you qualified to judge editorial, design, or both? (Check all that apply.)

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* 10. If you're interested in judging digital books, which formats can you accommodate?

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* 11. If you're interested in judging print books, please pick UP TO ten (10) categories which you feel qualified to judge. You don't have to pick ten, but should pick at least three. The system will not allow you to pick more than ten.

  Pick up to 10 categories
N/A - I only want to judge digital books
Animal & Pet
Art & Photography
Autobiography & Memoir
Best New Voice: Children’s/Young Adult (first book by a new author)
Best New Voice: Fiction (first book by a new author)
Best New Voice: Nonfiction (first book by a new author)
Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book – Children’s/Young Adult (first book from a new publisher)
Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book - Fiction (first book from a new publisher)
Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book – Nonfiction (first book from a new publisher)
Biography
Body, Mind & Spirit
Business & Career
Children’s Picture Book (0 – 3 years)
Children’s Picture Book (4 – 7 years)
Coffee Table Book
Cookbook
Cover Design: Children’s/Young Adult
Cover Design: Large Format (larger than 6” x 9”)
Cover Design: Small Format: Fiction (6” x 9” or smaller)
Cover Design: Small Format: Nonfiction (6” x 9” or smaller)
Craft & Hobby
Education
Fiction: Historical
Fiction: Mystery & Suspense
Fiction: Romance
Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Gift Book (Small Format)
Health & Fitness
History
Home & Garden
Humor
Inspirational
Interior Design: 1–2 color
Interior Design: 3 or more color: Adult
Interior Design: 3 or more color: Children’s/Young Adult
LGBT
Most Improved Redesign
Multicultural
Nature & Environment
Parenting & Family
Poetry
Political & Current Events
Popular Fiction
Professional & Technical
Psychology
Reference
Regional
Religion
Self-Help
Sports & Recreation
Teen: Fiction (13 – 18 years)
Teen: Nonfiction (13 – 18 years)
Travel
Young Reader: Fiction (8 – 12 years)
Young Reader: Nonfiction (8 – 12 years)

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* 12. Of the categories you picked above, please list your top three (3) choices as #1, #2, and #3. If you picked "N/A" because you only want to judge digital books, please also put "N/A" here.

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* 13. In the space below, please list the media outlets and/or book review publications (outside the Benjamin Franklin Awards) that have featured your critique of other people's work. If none, write "N/A".

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* 14. This year, all Benjamin Franklin Award judges will be required to participate and/or listen to a 30-minute orientation session via conference call. Are you able and willing to participate in this session?

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* 15. This year, all Benjamin Franklin Award judges will be asked to submit their scores online through SurveyMonkey (the survey platform you're using to complete this questionnaire right now). Are you willing and able to submit your scores online through SurveyMonkey?

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* 16. This year, if chosen to judge the print book program, you will receive your first shipment of books in mid-October 2016 and your second shipment of books in mid-January 2017. All judging forms must be completed online through SurveyMonkey by February 28, 2017. Does this timeline work for your schedule?

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* 17. If you'd like, please provide feedback, comments, suggestions for program improvement here.

That's all the questions we have...thank you!

NEXT STEPS:
Click "Done" below to submit your survey answers. You will hear from us again in August 2016 when we assign judges to this year's program. We will assign categories at this time, as well. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact Terry Nathan, IBPA's Chief Operations Officer, at terry@ibpa-online.org.

Thanks again for your time and interest!

T