Since 1956, Bookbuilders of Boston has sponsored the New England Book Show to recognize, encourage, and celebrate excellence in bookmaking. Eligibility for acceptance of entries is more flexible and has been expanded to include a broader spectrum of submissions. Publishers, printers, designers and authors are urged to submit their best efforts of the past year.* Jury members will consider design, composition, paper, printing, and binding. The 52nd Annual New England Book Show will be held in 2009 in Boston. The show will include the publishers’ choices as well as the jury’s selection of books, multimedia products, and covers/jackets.

eligibility
In the past, entries had to be produced by a New England publisher. This year, entries will be accepted from any publisher or supplier engaged in designing, producing, or manufacturing books in any of the New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. Entries need not be produced exclusively in New England, nor is membership in Bookbuilders of Boston required. Accepted entries must have been published by an eligible publisher, or designed, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by an eligible supplier. Catalogs, directories, calendars, periodicals, pamphlets, and promotional pieces are not eligible.

Publication Dates
Accepted entries must have been published during the eligibility period between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008. Previously submitted books are not eligible.

Specifications
Books
Texts of 32 pages or more, hard-bound or with a flexible cover. If fewer than 32 pages, the submission must be hard-bound. Books will be judged as complete products, including the interior and cover/jacket.

Revised Editions
Revised editions accepted only with substantial redesign, new composition, and page makeup.

Multimedia Products
Multimedia entries will be judged on design, content, packaging, documentation, and ease of use.

Covers/Jackets
Books are judged as complete products, including interior and cover/jacket. Publishers may also submit covers/jackets separately by following the directions on the “Covers/Jackets” section of the entry form.

categories
Books (use Book Entry Form)
$30 Members / $35 Non-members
If a book contains a disk or CD that should be included in judging, please enter as multimedia. If entered as a book, disk or CD will not be judged.

College
Texts intended for college classroom use, including vocational and adult education. Entry may be an individual title or a series of books.

El-Hi
Texts intended for elementary or high school classroom use. Entry may be an individual title or a series of books.

Juvenile
Children’s books, not intended for classroom use, including picture books and young adult titles.

General Trade, Illustrated
Heavily illustrated books of general interest, primarily sold in bookstores.

General Trade, Non-Illustrated
Trade books without an emphasis on illustration.

Professional, Illustrated
Heavily illustrated technical and scholarly texts.

Professional, Non-Illustrated
Professional books without an emphasis on illustration.

Pictorial
Books with an emphasis on fine arts or produced with extraordinary budgets.

Reference
Books intended for reference and consultation only, illustrations optional.

Covers/Jackets (use Cover/Jacket Entry Form)
$25 Members / $30 Non-members
Covers and jackets can only be submitted for College, El-Hi, Professional, and General Trade books. See eligibility requirements in each category above for additional information.

Multimedia Products (use Multimedia Entry Form)
$30 Members / $35 Non-members
Products include electronic media, games, overhead transparencies, loose-leaf binders, multi-component kits, and any products that do not conform to previous descriptions. If a book containing disk/CD is entered as a multimedia product, judging will include the disk/CD.

After completing the online form you must:

1. Print one copy of your completed entry form and attach it to the inside front cover of the book or to the back of the flat jacket
2. Either pay for the entries online using your account and a credit card, or include a check payable to Bookbuilders of Boston along with your submission.

Covers and jackets should be submitted flat.

Note: Please provide all of the information requested on the entry form. If your submission is selected, the entry form becomes manuscript for the book show catalog. Entrants are responsible for the accuracy of all specifications.

Mail Entries to:
Bookbuilders of Boston
Attention: Book Show Entries
44 Vinal Avenue
Scituate, MA  02066

entry deadline
All entries must be received in the Bookbuilders office by November 26, 2008

Winners will be notified by mail. At that time, we will require two additional copies of the book submission. One copy will be retained in the Bookbuilders archive at Boston College and the other will be displayed at the 52nd Annual New England Book Show.

Office: 781-378-1361
Fax: 419-821-2171
E-mail: office@bbboston.org

online forms
To submit your entries, you must first create a site user account. If you already have a Site User Account for event registration or Job Postings, you may use the same account for submitting your Book Show entries.

Once you have created your account, you will be able to start filling out entry forms. Your forms will be securely stored on the server so that you may review them, pay for them by credit card, and print hard copies to submit with your entries.

Click here to access the online entry forms

*Note: To avoid duplicate submissions, entries submitted by a party other than the publisher (such as a freelance designer or packager) must be accompanied by a letter of authorization from the publisher.

Note: Bookbuilders of Boston reserves the right to re-classify any submission.

Note: All submissions become property of Bookbuilders of Boston and cannot be returned.