foundation gives awards for the books in the fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people s literature categories. we are now joined by the executive director of the national book foundation, harold why did the national book awards start? they started in 1980. i think they felt the other awards were not sufficient to get at the literary nature. in 1950, and been going ever since. giving awards to the best literature in america. who are members? well, they are not members. there s a board, it s a nonprofit organization. it was started by the publishers, the association of the american publishers, the national book council. it no longer exists. right now it s a separate nonprofit organization run by the national book down book foundation. who s on the board to present the nonfiction awards? who picked the nonfiction award nominees? all of the panels, four panels, and they are independent panels. they are always writers in that genera. for example, the nonfiction