[Libs-Or] Connections: Your Link to the State Library of Oregon (May 2026)

Fri May 29 10:53:14 PDT 2026

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Volume 36, Issue 2 - May 2026
In This Issue:

  *   How a year of Reading Children’s Books Made Me a Better Adult: Insights into Serving on the National Newbery Award Selection Committee
  *   New Exhibit Coming to the State Library of Oregon in June
  *   Read Your Way Today with Talking Books
  *   Note from the State Librarian: Libraries Grow Literacy
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How a year of Reading Children’s Books Made Me a Better Adult: Insights into Serving on the National Newbery Award Selection Committee
By Ericka Brunson-Rochette, Community Engagement Consultant, Library Support and Development
The John Newbery Medal<https://us.list-manage.com/ZOfThIP5nKr?e=fbb0837c50&c2id=1073f4e579e0c45105ad99d7c83e6c0f> is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. It is considered the most prestigious American award for children’s literature, and I had the privilege of serving on the 2026 Newbery Award Selection Committee<https://us.list-manage.com/247UVMRdPce?e=fbb0837c50&c2id=1073f4e579e0c45105ad99d7c83e6c0f>. After spending a full year focused on reading books for youth, I can say with confidence that I am not only a more well-rounded reader, but I am also a better adult.
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. It is considered the most prestigious American award  for children’s
[Brunette Female holding 2026 Newbery Award winner and  four honor selections]
Ericka Brunson-Rochette holding the 2026 Newberry Award Winner with four 2026 honor books
literature, and I had the privilege of serving on the 2026 Newbery Award Selection Committee. After spending a full year focused on reading books for youth, I can say with confidence that I am not only a more well-rounded reader, but I am also a better adult.
As an English major, former youth librarian, and a perpetual hoarder of new information, the kinds of books that tend to command my attention are eclectic. In my personal life, I am likely reading a historical fiction, a young adult psychological thriller, and a middle-grade graphic novel all at the same time, while also bouncing between a fantasy title and a non-fiction audiobook. If it can keep my attention, I will consume it. If my attention is kept rapt, then I will recommend it.
My previous book recommendations to other adults would often include surface phrases like, “It will transport you to a different time and place,” or “The writing was so profound, it took my breath away.” Serving on this committee forced me to dig deeper and ask, “Yes, but how did that transportation happen?” and “What about the writing, even if momentarily, proved itself more valuable than oxygen?”. It’s dissecting these kinds of questions that gets you to the root of your admiration for literature. Not all books leave enough ground to dig up excellence, but when you’ve tunneled past the layers of how a book made you feel and there is still room to burrow into how it has changed you, that is where you unearth distinction. This was not something I was taught in college. Instead, I learned it by reading a year’s worth of kids’ books.
Since Newbery is a youth book award, these kinds of questions do require some decentering of self as an adult reader, and a focus on the ways these individual titles add value to the canon of exemplary children’s literature. There were times that my inner child commanded my adult self to take a seat. Even then, the child version of myself recognized the influence of time, experiences, and an ever-changing society on my inability as a grown-up to truly view the world through a child’s eyes. And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the need to make space for life experiences different from one’s own. Serving on Newbery required attentive and intentional interactions with child-readers, of course, but it also asked for a commitment to self-reflection and checking personal biases in ways that have made me a more mindful, conscientious, and present adult. At the time, this demand for intentional reflection added a lot more work to an already tremendous amount of effort. But it turned out to be the good kind of work where growth happens.
Participation on a committee of this nature is not for the easily distracted (see: me). It is not an easy road for those who have a habit of taking too much on their plate (see: also, me). Newbery helped me masterfully craft the art of saying no. This experience taught me to be agile with prioritization and unapologetic when priorities need to shift. Trying to fit reading into every spare moment really helped put in perspective how precious a gift time is and to recognize the significance of self-care. Ironic as it may sound, finding myself tasked with something that felt incredibly time-intensive and fast-moving is how I learned the greatest lessons about the value of slowing down. I'm grateful to the Newbery and this experience for helping shape these new perspectives for a new me. A better me. A better adult.
For more insights on the process side of serving on the Newbery Committee, check out the Youth Media Awards article in the April 2026 issue of the Oregon Association of School Libraries newsletter<https://us.list-manage.com/XomeLPLgd2V?e=fbb0837c50&c2id=1073f4e579e0c45105ad99d7c83e6c0f>. Congratulations to Renée Watson<https://us.list-manage.com/Q1H8sAl3Uvu?e=fbb0837c50&c2id=1073f4e579e0c45105ad99d7c83e6c0f>, the winner of the 2026 Newbery Medal for All the Blues in the Sky<https://us.list-manage.com/X3xxO0wCgGr?e=fbb0837c50&c2id=1073f4e579e0c45105ad99d7c83e6c0f>!

New Exhibit Coming to the
State Library of Oregon
By Emily Johns, Special Collections Librarian, Government Information and Library Services
This June, a new exhibit will open that explores the evolution of libraries in the United States over the last 175 years. It will have a particular focus on Oregon libraries and coincides with the America250 celebration. Come learn about the establishment of the free library system that we know today.
The exhibit highlights the resilience and adaptability of librarians through the challenges and changes that have occurred since the early 1800s. Through the Great Depression, both World Wars, sociopolitical changes, and ever-advancing technology, librarians' goal of providing free access to information and knowledge has remained the same.
We invite you to visit our new exhibit on the second floor of the State Library starting June 8th. The building is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The State Library is closed on holidays.
[1939 drawing of the then Oregon State Library by F.G. Hutchinsun]
1939 drawing of the then Oregon State Library by F.G. Hutchinsun
Read Your Way Today with Talking Books
By Tiff Bowers, Talking Books Librarian, Oregon Talking Book & Braille Library

It’s now easier than ever to enroll in Talking Book and Braille Library services in Oregon! The Oregon Talking Book and Braille Library offers free audiobook and Braille services for print-disabled Oregonians. If you, or someone you know, can’t read standard 12-point print for long periods of time, then this library may be the perfect Solution.

Nationally, one in five people are dyslexic, and in Oregon, over 670,000 people live with at least one disability. Standard print books aren’t accessible to everyone, but we believe
[Someone showing two people how to use BARD app]
Showing two people how to use BARD app

that everyone has the right to access information, entertainment, and the joys of reading in the way that makes the most sense for them. The Talking Book and Braille Library is here to help make that happen.

Talking Book & Braille Library users can download books on-demand using a mobile device. We can also mail book cartridges and accessible equipment directly to you via the United States Postal Service. Materials include the Talking

Book player, Braille eReader, headphones, remote control, and more - all for free.

In 2021, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) expanded the eligibility requirements and list of certifying authorities, including additional educational professionals. This makes it easier for those with a reading disability to access the free resources from the Talking Book and Braille Library.
Examples of eligible print disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  *   Visual disabilities: vision problems that can’t be corrected with eyeglasses, medication, or surgery.  Examples include: legal blindness, macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, etc.
  *   Physical disabilities: inability to handle a book or turn its pages.  Examples include: multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, stroke, severe arthritis, paraplegia, traumatic brain injury, etc.
  *   Perceptual or reading disabilities: difficulty reading words or understanding the words being read.  Examples include: dyslexia, dysphasia, ADHD, dementia, etc.
There’s no medical documentation needed to sign up; our users fill out an application and can self-identify as needing the library. Applications do need to be signed by what NLS calls a certifying authority, which includes: a doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, ophthalmologist, optometrist, psychologist, registered nurse, therapist, or professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or welfare agencies. If you are an educator, social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian, you can also sign an application for the Talking Book and Braille Library Service.
While we proudly serve over 4,500 active patrons across the state of Oregon, we know there are still many people who could benefit from connecting with us, and to reach them, we need your help. Please help connect those in need with this free service. We would like you to start conversations with the people around you who would benefit from our library and introduce them to who we are and what we do. Help spread the word throughout your community to friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. Share our phone number and email with anyone who has questions. If you are in a profession included on the NLS certifying authorities list above, sign off on applications and utilize our library as a resource. We are always looking to collaborate and can schedule time to connect. We are happy to share our outreach materials or equipment for on-site promotion, display, or hands-on demonstrations.
The bottom line: with fewer barriers, we encourage and empower you to spread the word about or certify an application for free Talking Book library service today! Help us achieve our mission “That all may read” in every community across our great state.
Note from the State Librarian

Libraries grow literacy
Libraries empower children to become strong readers and lifelong learners. The Storytimes and summer reading we all know and love often motivate a child’s first steps into a library. And the wonderful thing about taking first steps is there is so much more to discover.
Oregon’s families know that public libraries are the place to go for great books and fun activities. In fiscal year 2025, Oregon’s public libraries checked out over 12 million children’s books and had over 700,000 attendees at children’s programming. Oregon’s public libraries are a critical source of materials and programming supporting youth from birth to age 6 to develop early literacy skills and for school-aged youth to maintain literacy skills, especially over breaks and during the summer.
Libraries support learning at every age the way nowhere else does. From preparing for preschool to getting ready for graduation and beyond, your library has resources to help kids succeed. At the library, kids can discover the joy of reading, attend fun activities, or learn a little about everything, from gardening to soccer. These programs help children build literacy and language skills, setting them up for success in school and the rest of their lives.
Libraries are crucial in the years before kids start school, and access to even more books than could fit in one house that helps build vocabulary and the necessary pre-reading skills for kindergarten.
This summer, be sure to check out your libraries resources and promote literacy in your family by joining the summer reading program; Plant A Seed, Read!
[https://mcusercontent.com/91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03/images/2704d93a-41dd-3ec2-6955-71e52d13426f.jpg]
Library Support & Development Services Manager
Buzzy Nielsen<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov>, 971-375-3486

Talking Book & Braille Library Supervisor
Jen Robinson<mailto:jen.robinson at slo.oregon.gov?subject=&body=>, 503-378-5391

Government Information & Library Services Manager
Elke Bruton<mailto:elke.bruton at slo.oregon.gov>, 971-375-3509

Chief Operating Officer
Susan Westin<mailto:susan.westin at slo.oregon.gov>, 503-378-5435

State Librarian
Wendy Cornelisen<mailto:wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov>, 503-378-4367

Mission
The State Library of Oregon cultivates, preserves, and delivers library and information services to foster lifelong learning and community engagement.

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