The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library is now taking nominations for the 20th year of Howard County Reads.

Howard County Reads is an annual tradition that encourages residents in Howard County read a specific book. The program is a partnership between KHCPL and the Indiana University Kokomo library. A committee made up of library staff and community members choose each year's book from community nominations.

Melissa Wheelock, a readers' advisory librarian at KHCPL, said she's seen a lot of changes in the program over the years. In the early days, there were specific requirements for nominations, and a few titles made the list of top picks a few years in a row. Now, the committee avoids having repeat titles from year to year, and there are no longer specific length requirements.

Another big change over the years is an emphasis on bringing the author to Howard County. Last year, author Nikki Erlick visited to talk about the 2023 Howard County Reads book, "The Measure." The county has also seen Delia Owens, author of "Where the Crawdads Sing," and Sherri Smith, author of "Flygirl," among others.

Some years, the library has hosted events other than author visits, such as a dinner at the Elliott House or trips to other communities highlighted in the book that year.

Over the last several years, the committee has released a list of the top 15 picks, including the overall top choice. The last few years' lists can be found at https://www.khcpl.org/hcr.

Community members are encouraged to nominate titles for this year's top pick. Specifically, the committee is looking for books that are well-written, character-driven and interesting to a wide variety of readers. Books should also not be too long, Wheelock said. And it's a bonus if they're available in paperback, but it's not a requirement.

Nominations are open now through Feb. 29. To nominate a book, visit the nomination website.