The Notable State Documents Awards Program began in 1991 to recognize exemplary state publications. In honor of Freedom of Information Day, awards are presented each March in a ceremony at the State Library. The awards recognize notable documents that were released in the previous calendar year. State agency publications received by the State Library qualify to be nominated. Nominations may be submitted by depository librarians, State Library staff, or state agency employees. Agency websites and apps also qualify as nominees.
The archive for previous winners is available in our digital State Documents Depository.
See photos of the award ceremony on the South Carolina State Library Flickr.
Electronic Resources
2024 Notable State Documents Awards Nominations
All nominations are reviewed by librarians at the State Library, and approximately 25 documents are selected as final candidates. Librarians familiar with depository collections and/or state agency representatives are invited to serve as judges. Our judges review the candidates and select the final winners on the basis of criteria such as the document's appeal to a large audience, or its ability to provide significant information to the public.
Criteria
Documents will be judged on a point basis according to the following criteria:
- Extent of lasting reference and bibliographic value.
- Extent to which the document appeals to a broad audience and is written in a lucid style.
- Extent to which the document helps to enhance quality of life or provides information that assists in making informed decisions.
- Extent to which the document contributes to an understanding of government processes, provides significant government information, or reflects the mission the agency.
- Extent to which the publication displays an innovative presentation or a creative approach. Consideration is given to features, such as typography, design, quality of illustrations, use of maps, graphs, color, ease of use, and the extent to which document is generally pleasant to look through.
- Extent to which the title reflects actual contents and achieves its purpose by doing what it says it will do.
Submission Guidelines
Please follow these guidelines when submitting your nomination:
- The publication was produced by the State, a state agency or department, state-supported college or university, or by a firm which produced the publication under contract with or supervision of a state agency.
- The publication was produced within the calendar year for which nominations are being accepted. However, a publication produced in a previous calendar year, but not received by the State Library until the current year may also be submitted for nomination.
- The document, in either physical or electronic format, has been provided to the SC State Library for addition to the SC State Documents Depository.
- Please note, submissions may also be sent to our state documents email address: StateDocuments@statelibrary.sc.gov.
- Nominations for publications produced during 2024 will be accepted through December 31, 2024.
Enter your Nominations for the 2024 Notable State Documents Awards
