Youth literature acknowledged in 2010 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett today announced that Mike Shuttleworth of the State Library’s Centre for Youth Literature will be one of three judges of the 2010 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards in the new categories of Young Adult's Fiction and Children's Fiction.

Mr Shuttleworth is the program manager at the Centre for Youth Literature which promotes reading for pleasure amongst young people. He also regularly writes about and reviews young adult fiction.

In 2010 a tax free prize of $100,000 will be awarded to the works judged to be of the highest literary merit in each of four categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Young Adult's Fiction and Children's Fiction. The total prize pool is $400,000.

Mr Shuttleworth believes the new categories and associated prize money are timely recognition for the quality of Australian writing in this area.

‘I am honoured to have been invited to judge the Children's and Young Adult categories.

Children's and young adult writing is a really vital part of Australia's literary culture so it is great to see the writers and readers of young people's books included in Australia's most prestigious awards, he said’

CEO and State Librarian Anne-Marie Schwirtlich said she was proud to hear of Mr Shuttleworth’s selection.

‘Mike and his colleagues in the Centre for Youth Literature do amazing work promoting reading for young people. Mike’s selection as a judge in this prestigious award is recognition of this work and of the position the Centre holds as a peak body in this area. Mike is a terrific choice for this task,’ she said.

The winners in each category will announced later this year.