November 2024
Contents:
 The Oklahoma Center for the Book in the Oklahoma Department of Libraries invites Oklahoma students in grades four through twelve to participate in the My Favorite Book writing competition. Students attending public, private, charter, or home schools are eligible. To enter, students must write a letter to the author of a favorite book, series, or short story, explaining how it or a character from the work impacted their life. The deadline for entries is December 20, 2024.
Contest Levels:
- Level 1: Grades 4 – 6
- Level 2: Grades 7 – 8
- Level 3: Grades 9 – 12
Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners in each level:
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $250
- Third Place: $100
First place winners will also select a school library or public library to receive a $1,000 cash prize! The 2024-2025 winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the Oklahoma Capitol in May 2025.
Visit the contest website for the official rules, instructions for submitting, teacher instructions, and frequently asked questions. A contest flyer, participation certificate, and bookmarks are also available.
School librarians could partner with classroom teachers to advertise this contest.
Alva High School library is the library of the month. In her nomination email, Kandee Almgren, the Alva Middle School librarian, wrote, "As the district head librarian, I am impressed by the way Cara Bradt keeps an interest in the students and works to find ways to attract them to the library. She has so many great ideas that draw students into the library. She began a library book club where she has gotten sponsors for the books that the club reads so that the students in the club can all read the same book without the expense of purchasing the books.The club has brought lots of new patrons to the library for the club."
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 Book club is open to students and staff.
In her interview, Cara shared some of the important components for her library program at the high school level. "I have discovered that a secondary library requires several components to be effective. Obviously, a stellar collection is important! Beyond the collection, a secondary library needs promotion and advocacy."
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"I have found that secondary students who aren’t inherently interested in going to the library will not take an active interest in visiting the library unless they are forced to go. Helping secondary students see the library as more than just books requires frequent and friendly communication about library programs and services. Building a healthy library culture starts with active promotion and advocacy," wrote Bradt. |
"Next, a secondary library will only connect with patrons if it reflects their needs and appeals to their interests. I have found that open doors, popular (clean) music, and zoning the library to create spaces for group classes, socializing, and small group collaborations speaks to patrons and gives the library flexibility. Today’s students are not from my generation. I’ve had to leave my ego and preferences at the door, embrace their culture, and find ways to connect to their interests. I’ve tried a variety of library programming and promotional initiatives; some have been big hits, and some have been severe flops!"
"Book Club, Chess Club, Halloween temporary tattoo parlor, lunch time bingo, and Read to a Kitten Day have been successes. National Bubble Wrap Day, while loved by a few, was too weird for most students. I’m not afraid to try something new. Through trial and error, I’ve been able to dial into what speaks to the patrons who visit the library I serve," wrote Cara.
 Chess club is open to students and staff.
 Students read to a kitten.
 Student relieve stress on National Bubble Wrap Day.
"I’ve heard this at all my professional development training, but building relationships with patrons truly is vital," Bradt continued. "Students and teachers will not invest in me and the library I serve if I don’t make the effort to build personal relationships with them. When I build relationships with teachers, they are more likely to trust me with lesson collaborations, take advantage of library services, and promote library programs in their classrooms. When I build relationships with students, they are more likely to ask me for help, take part in the library programming, visit the library willingly, and ask for book recommendations."
 A collaborative teacher served as the barista on Starbooks day.
"My favorite lessons are collaborative lessons with other secondary teachers! I particularly love introducing students to new literature in ridiculous ways. One year we turned the library into a Starbooks where the kids explored our collection and filled out an 'order' of information about the books they inspected. When they completed their 'order' they were able to submit it as a daily assignment in exchange for an iced or hot coffee! At the end of the nine weeks, they completed a creative coffee-shop themed book report and presentation based on the book they read!"
 Students complete their orders on Starbooks day.
"Also, one February that same teacher and I did a Sequoyah Speed Dating Day. Sophomores engaged with past and present Sequoyah nominees, speed dating style, complete with cloth table covers, rose petals and battery-powered candles, compliments of the prom closet. A digital fireplace and Kenny G playing in the background completed the ambiance of the day as students searched for the perfect match. I’m pretty sure they thought it was a bit strange, but they never forgot that lesson!"
When asked to reflect on advice she wished she had heard her first year as a librarian, Cara shared, "The advice I would give myself during my first year is, 'Implement the KISS method. Keep It Simple, Sweetie!' Your first year should be about getting acquainted with your new position, faculty, school curriculum, patrons, school culture, and library needs. Deeply inspect and evaluate the collection, uphold important library programs and traditions, and spend the library budget thoughtfully and conservatively. Your first year is not a time to reinvent the wheel and jump into a dozen new initiatives. It will be tempting to recreate all the exciting things you have seen on library social media, but in doing so, you might create a library culture you can’t sustain long-term, and you might be so distracted doing your thing, you miss an important way that you can support your school."
Thank you, Cara, for taking the time to share the Alva High School library with the state of Oklahoma. Your dedication is inspirational!
Would you like to have your library featured in an upcoming newsletter? Or would you like to nominate a colleague's library?
Please email me if you would like to share a success story about programming, circulation numbers, a book display, or anything exciting in the library. In your message, please describe the reasons the library should be featured and attach at least one photograph.
Every effort is made to feature school libraries from around the state that serve elementary, middle, and high school students.
Only one slot is left for the 2024-2025 school year!
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