We  already know how great our Oklahoma teens are, but…

LOOK WHAT OUR TEENS DID!

Top School:    # Pages:
Putnam City High School, Teacher Beth Duffy    68,180    $250 worth of books for school library

Top Library:
Bartlesville Public Library, Librarian Laura Pryce    53,094    $250 worth of books for public library

Top 10 Overall Students:
Lindsey Kilmer, Grade 12, Putnam City High School    22,874    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Erica Adams, Grade 7, Bartlesville Public Library    21,038    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Amy Broadway, Grade 10, McAlester Public Library    11,905    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Hailey Gill, Grade 10, Stillwater Public Library    10,053    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Sarah Lemser, Grade 9, Westmoore High School    10,041    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Sarah Follett, Grade 11, Lawton Public Library    9,948    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Jamiya Havis, Grade 7, Hefner Middle School    9,921    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Marukh Ali, Grade 10, Putnam City High School    9,747    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Emely Jacob, Grade 7, McAlester Public Library    8,440    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game
Rachel Isaac, Grade 9, Putnam City High School    8,150    2 tickets to OKC Thunder game

Top 3 Readers:
Lindsey Kilmer, Grade 12, Putnam City High School    22,874    Autographed OKC Thunder team picture
Erica Adams, Grade 7, Bartlesville Public Library    21,038    Autographed OKC Thunder team picture
Amy Broadway, Grade 10, McAlester Public Library    11,905    Autographed OKC Thunder team picture

Top School Reader:
Lindsey Kilmer, Putnam City High School    22,874    iPod Nano

Top Library Reader:
Erica Adams, Bartlesville Public Library    21,038    iPod Nano

Total By Participating Schools 220,650
Total By Participating Libraries 283,726

Grand Total Pages for Read Beyond Reality    504,376

You can read the NIE post.

Congratulations to the winners!

Thank you all for participating and making the program so great.

books

I had a goal this year to try and read 100 books. However, my goal did not take in account how to keep track of what I read. It is easy for me to finish a book and pick up another one without pause. And, what constituted “finishing” a book? There are several I started and could not finish for various reasons. Does reading 50 or more pages count, or do I have to read the entire book for it to count? So I’m back to the drawing board.

Here’s an idea for you, though. I know we just finished Teen Read Month for the teens, but what about the tweens?

Can your tweens out read you?

Challenge your tweens to try and read either more pages or books than you in a span of time. Meet with them and decide on rules that you both can agree, like how to keep track of what’s read, for how long and if will be there be prizes or bragging rights. This could be a great way for early Christmas giving as well. Have participants contribute a item of no more than $5.00, the winner gets the entire lot, or you can split the items up based on the number of pages/books read. They can keep the item, donate it or give it as a gift. Another idea is to have everyone contribute and the winner decides what local charity the items are donated. The winner gets their picture, name, charity and bragging rights placed in a public area for all to see.

The teen’s Trick My Book Truck Contest winners are:

1st Place: Meeker Public Library – “Dive Into Reading”

2nd Place: Norman Public Library – “Rocky Horror Book Show”

3rd Place: McAlester Public Library – “Mario Kart”

You can view all entries on the CYA:Summer Reading Gallery

The children’s My Favorite Book Contest winners are:

1st Place: Guymon Public Library – Angelina Ballerina

2nd Place: Beaver Public Library – Junie B. Jones Sneaky Peaky Spying

3rd Place: Grove Public Library – Incredible Me

Thank you all for sending in photos and I look forward to next year’s contest!

You can view all entries CYA:Summer Reading Gallery

You can view pictures for the My Favorite Book and Trick My Book Truck contests on CYA:Gallery. Entries are due by July 31st. Winners will be announced at Share Fair, August 14th (children’s) and August 15th (young adult).

Unshelved/Highsmith 2nd Trick My Bookcart contest is over and the winner’s have been announced. This is going to be so much fun next year for Oklahoma. Rally your teens and get those ideas flowing!

I heard about the C-Span Student Cam 2008 contest on the radio. Take a look and see if your teens would be interested in competing.

The contest is for middle and high schoolers. The winner receives $5000. The deadline for entries is December 31, 2007.

Dear Librarian,

As you probably know, Oklahoma won the First Book contest and will win 50,000 books for Oklahoma pre-school children. The big book giveaway is scheduled for September 19 (yes, this is a new date) at the Oklahoma City Omniplex.

Those libraries and organizations that have registered with First Book will receive an email some time tomorrow. The email will include an application for books and related information.

If your program intends to apply, you need to respond to the e-mail immediately! Books will be given away on a first come, first served basis. If you wait to respond, it could be too late. We were advised that on some occasions the books are obligated in an hour!

Leslie Gelders

Literacy Coordinator

Oklahoma Department of Libraries

Dear Librarian,

Congratulations to everyone who helped Oklahoma win the national First Book contest. As a result of our efforts, the state will receive 50,000 new books to give to children at-risk for low literacy.

The First Book contest tallied more than 133,000 votes. More than 34,000 of those votes selected Oklahoma as the state to receive the windfall of books.

This contest provided a wonderful demonstration of what can happen when many organizations join together to share the gift of reading.

The big book giveaway is tentatively scheduled for September 20 in Oklahoma City.

Many of you have been curious about how the books will get into the hands of children. Eligible organizations throughout the state may apply to receive a portion of the books for giveaway to young readers. Eligibility requirements are:

• programs that predominantly serve children from low-income families; and,

• programs that do not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or physical or mental disability.

Is your library eligible? Perhaps. Your library may be located in an area that predominantly serves low-income children, or you may have an early literacy program targeting these youngsters, or you may be aware of organizations in your community that would be eligible. First Book will make the determination of eligibility as well as the quantity of books to be distributed to qualifying organizations.

To be considered for participation, organizations must register at http://register.firstbook.org

The next step will be to fill out an application in order to receive free books.  Very soon, First Book will be forwarding a link to this application form to those who are registered. So, if you are interested, please register as soon as possible.

Once the online application process begins, selection of free book recipients will be made on a first come, first served basis.

Organizations approved to participate will need to have someone attend the Oklahoma City event on September 20 in order to pick up their free books.

Congratulations, again. We did it! I am so proud to be State Librarian of Oklahoma—where there has been this tremendous outpouring of support for children and literacy.

Sincerely,

Susan McVey, Director
Oklahoma Department of Libraries

Continue stuffing the ballot box. Here is a copy of Leslie Gelder’s e-mail. Keep up the good work Oklahoma!

July 18, 2007

Dear Literacy Leaders, Library Staff, and Book Lovers,

There are only 14 days left in the First Book contest. The great news is that Oklahoma is still in first place to win 50,000 free books for children at-risk for low literacy.

Interest in this effort has been overwhelming! Numerous individuals and organizations are supporting the cause. At least two radio stations and a newspaper have featured the story. Members of the DAR and Telephone Pioneers are voting, and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation has sent out numerous e-mails. Additionally, several state agencies are forwarding information to employees and to their networks.

Now, more than ever, we need to make a final push to victory. Louisiana has slowly “snuck” into third place (they won the contest last year.) Be sure to vote today and every day until July 31. Help spread the word to groups and individuals who will support the effort.

Vote by visiting http://www2.firstbook.org/whatbook/index.php

Thank you for your interest and support.

Leslie Gelders

Literacy Coordinator

Oklahoma Department of Libraries