By John Bond
Whatever your political point of view, I hope we can all agree libraries (of all types) and librarians are essential.
For academic authors, they’re more than just hallowed buildings or subscription portals. They’re the infrastructure behind your thinking. If you use them strategically, they can quietly elevate the quality, depth, and efficiency of your work in ways that aren’t always obvious at first.
By Dr. Joseph ‘Rocky’ Wallace
Dr. Mike Rutherford’s book, The Artisan Teacher: A Field Guide to Skillful Teaching (2013), illustrates 23 common themes regularly modeled in the classroom by effective educators. Utilized as a clinical resource in schools throughout the U.S. and internationally (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea), this text breaks down in practical narrative why proven pedagogy makes all the difference.
Forty-seven textbooks have been awarded 2026 Textbook Awards by the Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA) Awards Committee. Twelve textbooks received William Holmes McGuffey Longevity Awards, 11 textbooks received Most Promising New Textbook Awards, and 24 textbooks received Textbook Excellence Awards.
By John Bond
If you’re an academic venturing into the world of publishing, your author bio is a small but important tool. It travels with your work, shapes how readers see you, and often determines whether media, conference organizers, or potential collaborators take a second look. But too many scholars undersell themselves here. Let me be blunt: humility has no place in your author bio. This is not your departmental webpage. It’s your moment to shine.
Nominations for TAA’s 2026 Textbook Awards is now open. Recognize your textbook today by nominating it for one our industry-respected awards:
McGuffey Longevity Award – to recognize long-standing textbooks and learning materials that have been in print for at least 15 years.
Textbook Excellence Award – to recognize excellence in current textbooks and learning materials.
Most Promising New Textbook Award – to recognize promising textbooks and learning materials in their first edition.
Starting with the 2026 Textbook Awards, TAA member author nominators will be able to nominate their works at a discounted rate. The TAA member-author nomination rate will be $250 (one book or two-book series) and $400 (three-book series). Publisher nomination rates will increase to $450 (one book or two-book series) $700 (three-book series). 2026 Textbook Awards Nominations are open September 1 to November 1.
