CHAIR OF JUDGES
Tricia Adams, Principal Librarian - Children, Young People & Learning
Learning Resources for Education, Northamptonshire Libraries and Information Services

As a professional Librarian with more years experience than I care to mention – I have worked with children in various guises for the last 17 years, including a spell as a primary school librarian, before moving back to public libraries in my home county of Northamptonshire, where I am now Head of Children’s Public Library Services and the schools’ library service. A lifelong love of reading and collecting children’s books has created a collection so rambling that the house has to be extended every few years!

EAST OF ENGLAND
Louise Aldridge, Senior Librarian – Children’s and Young People Team, Ely Library

My first professional post was as a children’s librarian for the London Borough of Hounslow (1993 – 1999) which gave me the best training in reading and stock development a girl could have – thank you Lynette! I moved to Cambridgeshire as a senior librarian in 1999 and am now responsible for library services to children and young people in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire – 8 static libraries and 2 that move around.

I run three Chatterbooks Reading Groups, which are made up of children aged from 7-13 years and a Teenage Stick Advisory Group for Year 7-11 young people. I joined London and South East Youth Libraries Group branch in 1995 and my first job on a branch committee was as a CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Judge (1996). It was such an amazing experience that I always wanted to be a judge again! This I achieved after moving to Cambridgeshire when I served as the Eastern Judge for the first time (2003-5).

Currently I hold two posts on the National Youth Libraries Group Committee: Representative for the Eastern Youth Libraries Group and Editor of the Youth Library Review and three roles on the Eastern Youth Libraries Group Committee: Past Chair, National Representative and now CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Judge! I am sent, read, pass on to the members of my reading groups and discuss 100s of books and proof copies each year. I really cannot wait to experience again that buzz that comes from discussing books with other enthusiastic professionals!

EAST MIDLANDS
Sue Polchow, Senior Adviser - Learning Resources for Education, Northamptonshire Libraries and Information Services

I have worked to enthuse young people about the pleasures of books and reading for 6 years as a schools’ library service adviser and 9 years as a school librarian. I created and managed our schools’ library service website Reading Really Matters which includes authors’ web links and book reviews. I am interested in how ICT can develop reader’s self-expression and shape reading choices. Annually I work with CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway shadowing schools, it is wonderful to hear students apply the Awards criteria and speaking up for their favourites! I am involved in organising our schools’ library service Book Challenge and Central England Kids Lit Quizzes, where keen readers do battle testing their book knowledge.

For the past 3 years I have Chaired East Midlands Youth Libraries Group, running lively events for school and children’s librarians. I am an avid reader of children’s literature and am looking forward tremendously to being a Judge.

LONDON
Ferelith Hordon, Children’s Librarian, Alvering Library

I have been a children’s librarian now for 34 years – I have never regretted this choice. I started as a trainee in Hertfordshire and was appointed to Hitchin Library. From there I moved to Wandsworth - where I have been ever since, working my way round the borough, watching innumerable children move from board books, to picture books and on. My passion is reading and I firmly believe that there is at least one magical book for everyone. The challenge is to find it. I am committed to the value of great books and storytelling, the power of words and pictures and the difference they can make.

For the last 6 years I have run CILIP Kate Greenaway shadowing projects with my local primary schools. Recently I contributed to the Oxford Encyclopaedia of Children’s Literature (Zipes) and I regularly review online for Writeaway. I have been Chair of Youth Libraries Group London; now I am looking forward to being a CILIP Carnegie Kate Greenaway Judge.

NORTHERN
Dr Mel Gibson, Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies, University of Northumbria

I have worked with children and young people as a children’s librarian, lecturer and literacy lonsultant. I am currently a lecturer specialising in childhood, children’s books and media at the University of Northumbria. My PhD and research interests are particularly focused on picture books and comics, and this work links with what I do in my consultancy on visual literacies. I co-teach modules on picture books and children’s books in general at Northumbria.

NORTH WEST
Ann Montgomery, Librarian, Bury Grammar School for Boys

After library school in Belfast, 10 years in higher education libraries in Manchester and a career break, I began work at Bury Grammar School Boys in 1999. I promote reading for pleasure whenever possible in the classroom and from the issue desk by selecting the stock and advising pupils and staff. Information Literacy is vital in any school but we also seek to nurture enthusiasm for books and reading by author and poet visits, reading groups and a vibrant stock. We have promoted the CILIP Carnegie Medal through active shadowing groups since 2000 and we also participate in the Bolton Children’s Book Award. I am a member of the Youth Libraries Group and the School Library Association and believe that both these organisations play important roles in promoting reading. I am looking forward to participating in the judging process for both medals, using my experience from a secondary school library and re-kindling an interest in books for younger children.

SCOTLAND
Agnes Guyon, Assistant Librarian - Children’s Mobile Library & Bookstart Co-ordinator, Midlothian Council

I qualified as a librarian in 1997 after having been a teacher for four years and joined Midlothian Council as a part-time children’s librarian in 2005. In this post, I drive the children’s mobile library to primary schools, participate in the selection of stock for children and young people, lead a Chatterbooks reading group and organise projects and events involving children, young people and their families. For the rest of the week I have recently been appointed to work as a Bookstart Co-ordinator. I also enjoy sharing books with my daughters aged 4 and 7.
Having been a member of the shortlisting panel for the 2007 Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books, I was very pleased to become a CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway judge. I am looking forward to reading and discussing the best of children’s books as a judge for this most prestigious award.

SOUTH EAST
Greta Paterson, Head of Children's and Young People's Services, Library and Information Services, East Sussex

I have been working with children in libraries for more than thirty years since I started as a trainee librarian with Kent County Library. From working in small branches, I progressed to become a specialist children’s librarian with Kent and subsequently the Medway unitary authority. I moved to my current post as Head of Children’s and Young People’s Library and Information Services in East Sussex at the beginning of 2007. Reading to children and sharing the love of books has always been the most important part of the job for me and I have been involved with CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway shadowing and regional nominations for many years. I never expected to have the opportunity to become a judge, so it was a great thrill for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience in 2007, and look forward to my second year in 2008. With ever increasing workloads it is often difficult to find the time to read the huge numbers of excellent books published every year but books are our core business and it is a pleasure rather than a chore to read so many.

SOUTH WEST
Julie Musselwhite, Children’s Services Librarian, Poole Central Library

I have worked in libraries for 16 years, including a university library, a map library, a media library and The House of Commons library!

The majority of my work has been in public libraries, working with children and young adults. I am currently working as children’s services librarian, which includes promoting reading to children, young people and families. I work mainly with stock promotions, consultation with young readers, author visits and reading promotions. I love reading young adult titles, graphic novels and comics (although I have a real soft spot for a good picture book – especially sharing them with my 3 year-old niece!)

I’m inspired by the fact that a good children’s book can have an impact on a person through an entire lifetime (I have fond memories of Shirley Hughes’ Dogger, the 1977 winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Award), and that even as an adult the books you read as a child will stay with you, far more than many of the adult titles available. I’m really looking forward to judging the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, and am excited by the thought that the winning title will mean much to so many people.

WALES
Kate Middleton, Assistant Librarian- South, Powys Council

I have been working with children for four years now. I pursued an interest in children and young people’s librarianship in University, but then initially I went into higher education. After a couple of years I came back to work in the children’s side of things with the Powys County Council Library, Archives and Information Service. Currently my work involves the co-ordination of Bookrunner South, which is a children’s mobile library service and the co-ordination of a curriculum support service to schools. The good thing about my job is that it is very hands on. I am meeting children and teachers virtually every day through the Bookrunner service, which gives me an excellent insight into their likes, dislikes and needs.

I take part in promotional events at a local level and I read stories to children every day on the Bookrunner. I’m also involved in the selection of all junior stock for the county and get to see it all when it comes in, so I always have a pretty good idea of what’s out there.

Consequently my home is always full of books waiting to be read! It’s great to be able to share the knowledge of a book that you really enjoyed with a young person and see them enjoy it too!

WEST MIDLANDS
Lisa Westmorland, SLS Development Manager, Staffordshire Schools’ Library Service

I first began working with children, books and reading as a Children’s Buyer for Waterstones’ in Bristol (when I qualified in 1996 full-time permanent librarian jobs were thin on the ground and so I took a position in bookselling). By 1999 I was Deputy Manager of the Children’s floor at Waterstones’ Piccadilly and had read some great children’s books and gained lots of experience. This included: developing specific areas of stock to meet local demand (Jolly Phonics in Bristol, American imports in Piccadilly!), organising activities, running author / illustrator events and dressing up in character costumes…

In 2001 I relocated back up to the Midlands and have worked for Staffordshire LIS ever since. For three years I was the Children’s Team Leader for the 14 Cannock Chase and South Staffs district libraries and worked on several reader development projects including a Creative Action Research Award project with a Cannock school investigating children’s attitudes to reading. I am now Development Manager at the schools’ library service and am enjoying working more closely with colleagues from the school improvement division to encourage reading for pleasure.
The thing I have loved most about all these jobs has been discovering new children’s books and authors and then persuading friends and family to read them too. I am also lucky enough to have the help of my 6 year-old goddaughter who is very good at sharing stories and who is rapidly developing her critical skills!

YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER
Rosie Scotting, Librarian: Children & Young People, North Lincolnshire Central Library

I have 25 years experience in different library posts, all specialising in work with children and young people. Currently I undertake outreach work and represent the interests of children and young people in libraries, schools and the community. I raise the profile of children’s library services through promotion and development. I work in an advocacy and advisory role (to parents, teachers, Early Years staff and library staff) regarding books and reading for under 16s. I carry out stock selection for children and young people within North Lincolnshire Libraries and also the Education Library Service. I am also an active member of Yorkshire and Humberside Youth Libraries Group committee.

I read widely and voraciously – for pleasure and work. There are too many brilliant children’s books for the time I have. I then rave about what I have read to other people. I am currently mentoring colleagues through ‘Their Reading Futures’ reader development package, which provides lots of opportunities to highlight and talk about books for young people.

I lead on the summer reading challenger ‘Big Wild Read’ for North Lincolnshire – delivering advocacy, promotion, evaluation and talking to lots of children.