Thank you so much for volunteering your time and insight as a judge for the Minnesota Author Project Contests. Your thoughtful evaluations help us discover incredible indie books and connect them with readers in libraries across the U.S. and Canada.
This page has everything you need to successfully complete your judging assignments. If you ever have a question or run into a snag, don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help! Feel free to contact Nash Steele at nash.steele@lyrasis.org.
There are two Minnesota Author Project contests that accept submissions from April 1 to May 31st:
The number of submissions that each judge will read depends on the final number of submissions. You can find your assigned books on this spreadsheet in the Google Drive folder, which I’ll update regularly over the next few months as books are rated. You’ll read your assigned books on BiblioBoard and then submit a quick Google Form for each title, including your ratings and comments. You can find the Google Form for the general contest here, and the Google Form for Communities Create contest here. Your BiblioBoard login information is listed on the spreadsheet above. Please note that if you already have a BiblioBoard account set up through your library, you’ll need to use the judging-specific login noted on the spreadsheet.
We’ll use your scores from each book to determine which books move on to the final round of judging. Judges will read all final round submissions in their assigned category.
For the general Minnesota Author Project Contest, the rubric evaluates:
Each category has its own point value and contributes to the book’s total score. The rubric is available on BiblioBoard, and you can also download it here:
Download the 2025 Judging Rubric
For the Minnesota Author Project Communities Create Contest, the rubric evaluates:
Like the above rubric, each category has its own point value and contributes to the book’s total score. The rubric is available on BiblioBoard, and you can also download it here:
You’ll receive direct links to your assigned books via email, and you can find them on the spreadsheet in this Google Drive folder, along with your login information. Books are hosted on BiblioBoard Library.
If a book link doesn’t work or you’re having trouble accessing it, email Nash Steele at nash.steele@lyrasis.org, and we’ll assist you promptly.
After reading each book, submit your feedback using a quick Google Form. You can find the Google Form for the general contest here, and the Google Form for Communities Create contest here. You must submit a form for each book that you read.
Each form includes:
Please note: Comments may be shared with other judges and authors. We encourage respectful, constructive feedback.
What if I find a book unreadable or poorly formatted?
Please note this in the comment section of the form. That feedback is helpful for our team.
Are my comments shared with authors?
Your comments will be shared with the other judges and may be passed along to the authors as well, especially if they provide helpful critique or praise. Please be constructive and kind.
Can I skip a book if I don’t like it?
If you start reading a book and can tell that it won’t be a contender for the final round, you are not required to finish it. Please note your feedback on the submission form.
What happens after I submit my feedback?
We’ll tally all scores and hold a meeting with all judges in each genre to determine which submissions will continue to the final round. Meeting dates and times will be communicated via email. While attendance is not mandatory, it is highly encouraged that you participate if you can.
Have a question? Experiencing technical issues? Want to double-check something?
Email Nash Steele at nash.steele@lyrasis.org
We’re so grateful for your time and support, and are always happy to help!
Feel free to tell your community that you’re an Indie Author Project Contest Judge! You can even download a digital badge to share on social media or your website:
Tag us @IndieAuthorProject if you post on social media!
Google Folder with all available resources