E-books Eligible For Award

Maybe now e-books will get some respect. That's because they've just become eligible for the National Book Award, according to a decision announced June 1 by the board of directors of the National Book Foundation. But there won't be a separate category for e-books. They'll be considered within the four award categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people's literature. "With books appearing in a new electronic format," says Neil Baldwin, the foundation's executive director, it was time "that appropriate consideration should be given to e-books. Our decision ensures that all important published literary work… will be part of the playing field." Ironically, publishers submitting e-books for consideration must send a hard copy of the work. Finalists for the 2001 awards will be named on October 11, and winners will be announced on November 14.