The prestigious 'NIB' Award for excellence in literary research, worth a whopping $20,000, is a one-of-a-kind in Australia. Sponsored by Waverley Council, Waverley Library and Friends of Waverley Library, it's had its fair share of notable winners and author entrants - think Kate Grenville, Jane Gleeson-White and Robin de Crespigny and much more - with the annual "it's a tough job but someone's gotta do it" task of trying to find a winner.

That's where we need your help, dear readers, as this year (like any good book) there's a twist, and as part of the first ever 'People's Choice' Award, the public shall decide which outstanding author and/or publication deserves to win.

The People's Choice Winner will be awarded $500 at the prestigious breakfast awards ceremony, with one of the voters receiving a signed set of shortlisted books and dinner at Bondi Icebergs and invitation to the awards ceremony. So you think you can judge a book by more than its cover? Show us what you've got!