Sharjah’s Kalimat shortlisted for three international awards

Sharjah’s Kalimat initiatives in publishing and charity are shortlisted for three awards in The London Book Fair’s International Excellence Awards in a strong showing for the Arab World at the seventh edition of this prestigious event which takes place during The London Book Fair on Tuesday, 10 March.

The Arab World is the Market Focus region this year, with a focus on Sharjah in particular.  Kalimat publishing is shortlisted for two Market Focus Sharjah awards: the Children’s, Young Adult and Education Award, and the Adult Trade Publisher Award.  Kalimat’s Foundation for Children’s Empowerment is also shortlisted for the Accessible Books Consortium award for an Initiative.

Other Arab World shortlisted companies or individuals are the Yemen Bookstore for Bookstore of the Year, sponsored by UK wholesaler Gardners; Maadi Public Library in Cairo, Egypt for Library of the Year; Yasmina Jraissatie from RAYA The Agency for Arabic Literature (France) for the Literary Agent Award; Arab Scientific Publishers and Dar Al Adab (both Lebanon) for the Market Focus Sharjah Adult Trade Publisher Award; and ABC Publishers (Jordan) and Dar Rabie Publishing (UAE) for the Market Focus Sharjah Children’s Young Adult and Education Award.

There are 29 countries represented this year, the most in the awards’ history, including a number for the first time, among them Colombia, Croatia, Mozambique, Uganda and Yemen.  The USA leads the way with five short-listings, followed by India (3), Egypt (3), Canada (2), Germany (2), and New Zealand (2).  In 2017, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, received the Simon Master Chairman’s award for special contribution to the world of books.  It is named after the first executive chairman of the London Book Fair advisory board.

The awards, held in partnership with the UK Publishers Association, celebrate publishing success in sixteen categories, representing the best publishing ambassadors, innovative publishing, and ground-breaking initiatives in the industry. In each award category, the judging panel was comprised of experts in that sector.

Jacks Thomas, Director, The London Book Fair, said: “This record number of countries shortlisted for the seventh LBF International Excellence Awards – with entries from 29 countries – really does shout that the global book industry continues to thrive through innovation, inspiration and sheer hard work across the globe. The awards capture the passion that underpins the commitment of those working in this global village to share the power of books.

“The geographic range cements these awards as the pivotal event celebrating global excellence in the publishing industry. It is wonderful to give all short-listees the international platform at the Book Fair to showcase their success. We look forward to welcoming this great line-up in March and wish everyone the best of luck.”

The full list of shortlisted entries is below:

• The Academic and Professional Publisher Award
  • Brookings Institution Press (USA)
  • Princeton University Press (USA)

• The Audiobook Publisher of the Year
  • Karadi Tales (India)
  • Penguin Random House (USA)

• The Bookstore of the Year Award, sponsored by Gardners
  • Rahva Raamat AS (Estonia)
  • Unity Books (New Zealand)
  • Yemen Bookstore (Yemen)

• The Educational Initiatives Award
  • Book Aid International (UK / Kenya)
  • Karadi Path Education Company (India)
  • World Literacy Foundation (UK / Uganda and Columbia)

• The Educational Learning Resources Award, supported by The China Publishing & Media Journal
  • Apicula Verlag, GMbH (Germany)
  • Caramel Tree (Canada)
  • Karadi Path Education Company (India)
• The Library of the Year Award
  • City of Johannesburg Libraries (South Africa)
  • Maadi Public Library (Egypt)
  • Shanghai Library (China)

• The Literary Translation Initiative Award
  • Gecko Press (New Zealand)
  • SM Traducoes (Mozambique)
  • Yiddish Book Centre (USA)

• The Literary Agent Award
  • Elina Ahlback – Elina Ahlback Literary Agency LTd (Finland)
  • Maria Lynch – Casanovas & Lynch Literary Agency (Spain)
  • Yasmina Jraissatie – RAYA The Agency for Arabic Literature (France)

• The Literary Festival Award
  • Festival of World Literature (Croatia)
  • Frankfurt liest ein Buch (Germany)
  • Macassar international Writers’ Festival (Indonesia)
• The Rights Professional Award, sponsored by Sharjah Book Authority
  • Gabriel Nieto, Planeta (Mexico)
  • Stephanie Barrouillet, SB Rights Agency (Israel)
  • Tuomas Sorjamaa, Ferly (Finland)

• The Market Focus Sharjah Adult Trade Award
  • Arab Scientific Publishers (Egypt)
  • Dar Al Adab (Lebanon)
  • Kalimat (UAE)
• The Market Focus Sharjah Children’s, Young Adult and Education Award
  • ABC Publishers (Jordan)
  • Dar Rabie Publishing (UAE)
  • Kalimat (A Kalimat Group Company) (UAE)

Eligible for entries from all countries, including the UK:

• Accessible Books Consortium International Excellence Award: Publisher
  • Ediciones Godot (Argentina)
  • House of Anansi Press (Canada)
  • Macmillan Learning (USA)

• Accessible Books Consortium International Excellence Award: Initiative
  • EIFL – Electronic Information for Libraries (Lithuania)
  • Fondazione LIA (Italy)
  • Kalimat Foundation for Children Empowerment (UAE)

Eligible for entries from the UK only:

• Inclusivity in Publishing Award, supported by the Publishers Association
  • Bonnier
  • Hachette
  • Springer Nature