The CWA Dagger in the Library, 2008

Sponsor: The Random House Group

Prize: £1500

The Dagger in the Library is an annual award, given to "the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to library users"; authors are nominated by UK libraries and Readers' Groups and judged by a panel of librarians. As the award emphasises the rôle played by libraries in providing an audience for authors whose careers are developing, nominations should be for authors whose discovery has recently delighted readers (rather than long-standing favourites). The award is given for the body of an author's work, not for an individual title, and those nominated must be alive at the time of the nomination and should preferably be working in Britain. Previous winners of this award are not eligible — a complete list of winners can be found here.

The broadest definition of the crime novelist is used; it can include authors of thrillers, suspense novels, spy fiction and period fiction as well as more traditional forms like "cosies", "hard-boiled" and police procedurals.

Recent winners include Stephen Booth, Alexander McCall Smith, Jake Arnott and Jim Kelly, while C.J.Sansom, Christopher Brookmyre, Joolz Denby and Lesley Horton have been Very Highly Commended. Last years' winner was Stuart MacBride and he spoke about it at Hamilton House Library in South Lanarkshire:

I was stunned to win the 2007 CWA Dagger in the Library with only three books to my name. Stunned, surprised, and strangely aroused... I was up against some extremely good writers, with a great track record and I never really thought I had a chance of winning.

I believe that libraries are spectacular things, one of the cornerstones of civilisation. They’re where we first get to pick the books that we want to read, rather than the ones our parents and teachers want us to read. They open up whole worlds to us we’d never get the chance to see otherwise. And to win a dagger nominated and voted for by libraries and the people who use them was incredibly gratifying.

The Librarians' choice

The Award is judged entirely by librarians; in 2008 the non-voting Chair will be Jonathan Gibbs from City of London Libraries and the voting judges will all be librarians who have regular direct contact with the public.

Libraries have until 14th April 2008 to produce nominations – up to 3 per library or Readers’ Group. Each individual library or Readers’ Group may make a nomination, so that any authority can submit as many forms as it has libraries and Readers’ Groups!

Supporting statements are welcome and encouraged as they will help the judges to make their decision.

All libraries whose nominated authors are short-listed for this award will be entered for a draw for two free tickets to the CWA Dagger Awards ceremony in London in July, where the winner will be announced.

Queries to: library.dagger@thecwa.co.uk