The National Library of Iceland – University Library and the Icelandic Writers' Association have established a new poetry book award called the May Star and will be awarded annually, for the first time on May 18, 2017. Ingibjörg Steinunn Sverrisdóttir, National Librarian, and Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir, Chair of the Icelandic Writers' Association, signed a cooperation agreement for the poetry award in Gunnarshús at the same time as the first nominations for the May Star were announced. The nominated books are:

• Eyþór Árnason for I Don't Sleep in Dream-Keeping Pajamas , Reykjavík: Veröld
• Magnús Sigurðsson for A Warm and Good World: Poetry and Prose , Reykjavík: Dimma
• Sigurður Pálsson for Poetry Remembers the Voice , Reykjavík: JPV
• Sigurlín Bjarney Gísladóttir for Tungusól and a few days in May, Reykjavík: Language and Culture
• Þórdís Gísladóttir for Uncertainty Level, Reykjavík: Benedikt

The nominated books are all on display in the lobby of the National Library.