The Ferguson Forum -- Teen Librarian Forays into Non-fiction

Reading nearly 600 books in a single year might be inconceivable to most people, but Steve Zampino, The Ferguson’s teen librarian, seems to be taking the task in stride. In fact, he considers it an honor.

As a member of the committee which will bestow the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal to the best non-fiction books of the year, Zampino and his fellow committee members are inundated with entrants vying for this prestigious children’s book award.

“It’s not as big as the Newbery or Caldecott, but it’s kind of a big deal,” Zampino said.

Since 2001, the Sibert Award has been given annually to the authors and illustrators of the most distinguished informational book for children. Administered by the Association for Library Service to Children, the award was named after Sibert, a long-time president of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., a book selling and binding business that supports library education.

Zampino, who has been with The Ferguson for 13 years, had his sights on the committee for a few years because he enjoys reading non-fiction. When he got an email asking him to join last year, Zampino said he was shocked and delighted, but a bit worried about the time it would take from his family. After getting the support from his wife, Zampino accepted the challenge.

“It was a ‘you can’t pass it up’ kind of thing,” Zampino said. “And, it’s been a great experience. I’m very grateful to have been appointed to it.”

So far, the job of reading a gargantuan number of books hasn’t been too difficult, Zampino said.

  “Some take five minutes; others might take eight hours to read, but most are between two and three hours. From January to now, it’s taken me, on average, seven hours a week,” Zampino said, adding that the time will increase as this year’s deadline approaches and more authors submit their books.

At the end of the selection process, Zampino said he plans on donating the vast majority of books to the Library.

Has he read a clear winner yet?

As a member of the committee and without all the entries submitted, Zampino said he can’t divulge whether he thinks he’s read this year’s winner. He did say there are terms and criteria the committee uses to judge whether a book is worthy of a Sibert Award, but it boils down to being “grabbed” by a book.

“It’s something that really hooks you. Something magical, beyond ordinary. It’s something you really can’t name, but you know there’s something really special about it,” Zampino said.