Andrew Carnegie Medal

for Excellence in Children's Video

What is the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video?

This Carnegie Medal is presented annually to an American producer for the outstanding video production for children released in the United States in the previous calendar year.

Who decides the winner?

Members from the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA, comprise the selection committee.. 

When did the award begin?

The first medal was awarded in 1991.  The Carnegie Corporation of New York established this award in June 1990 as part of the ALA-Carnegie Quality Video for Youth Project and funds the award through a Carnegie endowment.  

What special criteria are used to select this award?

 Selected videos must reflect interests of children, up to age 14, and show respect for a child's intelligence and imagination.  Adapted videos must remain true to, expand, or compliment the original work. Entries must have been originally released in the United States and produced by a U.S. citizen, a U.S. resident, or by a company headquartered in the U.S. "Video" refers to an audiovisual experience and can be a cassette or laser disc format.

Why is it called the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video?

Andrew Carnegie donated money to fund over 2500  public libraries in the United States and throughout the world.  The Carnegie Corporation continues to fund programs for adult education and education in the fine arts. The Carnegie Corporation of New York endowed the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video.

What does the award look like?

The circular medal portrays a bust of Andrew Carnegie on the right side and the words "The Andrew Carnegie Medal" on the left side.