How to Enter
ELIGIBILITY
Publishers of print and audiobooks with a copyright date of 2024 may enter the current competition. Qualifying publishers include:
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independent publishers
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hybrid publishers
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author publishers
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university presses
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association presses
PERIODS OF ENTRY
For books published in 2024:
There are two periods of entry:
(1) July 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024.
(2) October 1, 2024 to December 16, 2024.
Usually, books published between January 2024 and September 2024 are entered in the first entry period and books published between October 2024 and December 2024 are entered in the second entry period. As long as the books have a copyright date of 2024, however, they can be entered any time prior to the final December 16, 2024 deadline. All entries must be postmarked no later than December 16, 2024. This final deadline cannot be extended.
Books with a copyright date other than 2024 will not be considered without proof that the book first became available for sale in 2024.
COMMUNITY CATEGORIES
IBPA is pleased to recognize historically marginalized communities in the following categories:
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AAPI Communities
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Black/African American Communities
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Disabled Communities
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First Nations/Indigenous Communities
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Latina/o/e Communities
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LGBTQIA2+ Communities
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Neurodivergent Communities
Please note that submissions to these categories will first be judged on the book’s contributions to the respective community and must include a significant contributor (editor, primary illustrator or photographer for highly illustrated books, publisher, or author) to the project from that community. Submissions will then be judged on the quality of the publication as outlined for the rest of the awards categories.
FEES FOR ENTRY
IBPA Book Award entrants must be current members of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). To accommodate this, there are two fees for entry:
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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Decide which books with a copyright date of 2024 to enter into this year's competition.
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Calculate the overall entry fee.
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Choose which category (or categories) to enter each book into. You may enter a book into as many categories as you'd like. The fee for the first category is $99 for IBPA members and $234 for non-members. The non-member fee includes a one year IBPA membership. The fee to enter a book into subsequent categories for both members and non-members is $99 per category.
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MEMBER EXAMPLE: IBPA members who enter "Book A" in Category 8 and Category 56 and "Book B" in Category 1 pay $99 + $99 + $99 = $297.
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NON-MEMBER EXAMPLE: Non-members who enter "Book A" in Category 8 and Category 56 and "Book B" in Category 1 (i.e., the same as above) pay $234 + $99 + $99 = $432.
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Fill out a unique Entry Label for each book in each category.
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Download the appropriate Entry Label above.
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Fill out the ENTRY FEES and ENTRY LABEL sections for each book in each category.
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Be sure to enter both the category number and name in the ENTRY LABEL section.
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Duplicate each Entry Label as appropriate.
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For print books, a copy of the completed Entry Label must be placed inside the front cover of every book submitted. Four physical copies must be submitted for the initial category - one copy for each judge and one copy for the IBPA office - and three copies for each additional category - one copy for each judge.
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MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER EXAMPLE: If you enter "Book A" in Category 8 and Category 56 and "Book B" in Category 1, a total of seven copies of "Book A" and four copies of "Book B" must be submitted.
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For audiobooks, a single copy of the completed Entry Label must be submitted along with three Audible gift codes - that's one code for each judge. If your audiobook is not available on Audible, contact Terry Nathan at terry@ibpa-online.org for additional options before entering the competition.
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Prepare your shipment.
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Package all entries along with payment in a single shipment, double checking that a completed Entry Label is inside the front cover of each print book. Place payment in an easy-to-spot envelope labeled "PAYMENT" on top of the entries INSIDE the package. DO NOT INCLUDE ENTRY FEE INFORMATION INSIDE EACH BOOK AND DO NOT INCLUDE PAYMENT IN AN ENVELOPE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PACKAGE. If entering audiobooks as well as print books, the three Audible gift codes can be placed inside the payment envelope, as well. If entering only audiobooks, no physical books need to be sent.
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Ship your package.
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Use a shipping service such as UPS, FedEx, or the USPS to ensure on time delivery.
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Print and place the provided mailing label on the outside of your package to identify it as an IBPA Book Award submission.
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Ship to:
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IBPA BOOK AWARD
Independent Book Publishers Association
1020 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Ste 204
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
