Library Journal Announces 2011 Reviewers of the Year
By Margaret Heilbrun & Heather McCormack Jun 20, 2011Today, Library Journal announced its 2011 Reviewers of the Year. The five winners—four librarians and one music specialist—collectively have dedicated more than 50 years to guiding librarians and consumers toward titles in popular fiction, the social sciences, performing arts, audio, and video.
"Their work epitomizes incisive, informed, spirited criticism and has contributed to librarians' ongoing efforts to offer their communities opportunities for education and entertainment," said LJ Book Review Editor Heather McCormack. "We are proud to have them on our rosters and excited to fete their achievements."
On Saturday, June 25, at the American Library Association's annual convention in New Orleans, LJ will honor the winners at a champagne and dessert reception sponsored by NoveList, EBSCO Publishing's readers' advisory database. (Information on other LJ events at ALA is available here.)
"We at NoveList are honored to support LJ in celebrating the contributions that its reviewers make to ensuring that libraries have not just the right materials, but the best materials available for their users," said Duncan Smith, cofounder of NoveList.
The winners are as follows:
- Jeanne Bogino, 2011 Fiction Reviewer of the Year
Bogino, director of the New Lebanon, NY, Library, has reviewed popular fiction for LJ since 2007, demonstrating in just a few years her versatility and wit as a writer. From women's fiction to zombie fiction, and everything in between-yes, Jane Austen erotica-she distills the essence of the book and, in lively prose gives us her judgment, always entertaining and enlightening.
- Carol Elsen, 2011 Nonfiction Reviewer of the Year
Elsen, collection manager and reference librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has been an LJ reviewer in business and social sciences for eight years. For her verve, her playful sense of language, her effective assessments of a spectrum of titles, and for coming through with reviews that barely need an edit, she is all too deserving of this honor.
- Janet Martin, 2011 Audio Reviewer of the Year
Martin has worked at the Southern Pines Public Library, Southern Pines, NC, since 2001 and has been reviewing audiobooks for LJ since 2003. While she always enjoys hearing work from a favorite author, she has also valued the opportunity to experience new writers and has never balked at a challenge.
- Joan Pedzich, 2011 Video Reviewer of the Year
Director of library services in the Rochester, NY, office of the Harris Beach law firm, Joan has been reviewing videos and DVDs for LJ for over 20 years. She has reviewed films across the legal and criminology disciplines and has gladly stretched her focus to include video studies of immigration and sociological-judicial issues as well. Cleanly written and delivered on time, her reviews always get right to the meat of the subject.
- Carol J. Binkowski, 2011 Special Reviewer's Citation
Binkowski, a musician and freelance journalist who resides in Bloomfield, NJ, has been an LJ reviewer of books in the performing arts for 20 years, consistently providing insightful and lively assessments within her broad areas of expertise, helping LJ reflect underrepresented voices across disciplines, including lesser-known international performers, LGBTQ media studies, feminist perspectives, and youth activism.
