Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction recognized the best books for adult readers published in the United States in the previous year. They were established in 2012 with a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and were co-sponsored by the American Library Association's Booklist and its Reference and User Services Association. Library professionals chose the books, and each winning author received $5,000.

Each cycle began with a longlist in the fall, followed by a shortlist of three books in each category and the naming of one fiction and one nonfiction winner in January. In March 2026 the ALA announced that the medals would go on hiatus after the 2026 awards, when the Carnegie Corporation's support ended, while it looks for a new sponsor.

Fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the United States during the previous year were eligible.