C-SPAN2’s “Book TV,” known for its coverage of politics, culture and art, will receive the Phillis Wheatley Award from the Harlem Book Fair.

The award, named for the first published African-American female writer, is given for literary work and literary advocacy that transcends boundaries, race and perception, book fair founder Max Rodriguez said.

This is the first year the award, which has been presented for the past nine years, will be given to an organization instead of an author. Past recipients include Walter Mosley, Maya Angelou and Chinua Achebe.

“We specifically want to honor Book TV for the vision that it has taken to give voice to African-American writing in a way that no other media outlet, black or white, has done,” Rodriguez said. “That takes courage. That takes commitment.”

Peter Slen, Book TV’s executive producer, will accept the award Saturday in New York.

“One of our top goals is to make sure different points of view are heard,” Slen said.

Book TV has broadcast live coverage of the Harlem Book Fair since 2002.