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Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement

The purpose of this statement is to clarify the responsibilities of individuals serving on any of the award juries affiliated with the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, including the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, the Public Poetry Project, and the Baker’s Dozen: Thirteen Best Books for Family Literacy, specifically with regard to the confidentiality needed to administer the awards and programs successfully and parameters to avoid any conflicts of interest while serving as a juror. The term juror herein refers to readers, judges, and selection committee members.

Conflict of interest

While serving as a juror, no individual should obtain or appear to obtain special advantages for themselves, their close associates, or relatives as a result of their service as a juror. 

Confidentiality

The jurors must maintain a high level of confidentiality throughout all aspects of the jury process. This confidentiality includes jury conversations, electronic communications, and specific titles/works under consideration for the award.

Jurors should not engage in any print or electronic communication outside of the jury process regarding eligible titles while serving on an award jury. This includes, but is not limited to, professional and general journals/magazines/newspapers, electronic discussion lists, blogs, and social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc). Jurors who write reviews in a professional or personal capacity must avoid publishing reviews of eligible materials while serving as a juror. Following completion of jury service, jurors may express their personal opinions about any eligible titles in any manner or forum, however at no time may they ever identify the status of a title as having been or not been under consideration, suggested, and/or nominated for the award, nor may they ever reveal any details of jury discussions.