[OYAN] Reminder about Letters About Literature => Oregon Entries Due Online by 12/14

Thu Nov 15 14:05:03 PST 2018

I posted the email below on September 24th. Here’s a friendly reminder about this opportunity for students and about the deadline. Please pardon the cross-posting.
Hi,

Some of you have asked whether or not Oregon students can still participate in Letters About Literature (LAL). I have a short answer and a long one.

Short Answer:

Yes, Oregon 4th – 12th graders can participate. Letters for all age groups must be submitted online to the Library of Congress by December 14, 2018. The link will be available here as of November 1st: http://www.read.gov/letters/states-list.html#oregon<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uY5GwHQXcTUJiHSd9kZ-2BRe5QgrppD0578VXKl6g-2BlD4Ctz4XFIQFsYmhcd0S-2BWl3TA-3D-3D_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1x2I3CDQ0HJzGnUCXUjsFhQdjJXB9awvOTLuq-2Fi7YZutWfB2kw-2BN8wUj3rD-2F9iklASfU597hhrE4EspfKuH7I1IW-2Fz4gwOjEqkG34VRVk6HMLU4tRyN1IPvQVoSeKnlZEg2qfVxb2m1dKTlTAT5FC41Q-3D-3D>. I recommend that you read the page for Teachers (http://www.read.gov/letters/teachers.html<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uY5GwHQXcTUJiHSd9kZ-2BRe6qeWP6mOuiB9XF0wTnhFcP2GmvNJWI5hHRL9Uq6EAtRg-3D-3D_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1x21soLDVdsI-2BmzBYadoJc14ZQhxPJMxp8sgcWDjhDJWpJyFBEckLivRx1m5zsBRFGY0mNMy8kqpgPQAYGmMNhVJUHTCy3ckGx2DbAyZJbyNz3m1hL26XPXYyF3ySPQG8VbfDGdIGR-2FBVVCjgBTGbRNg-3D-3D>) and the FAQ (http://www.read.gov/letters/faq.html<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uY5GwHQXcTUJiHSd9kZ-2BRe7CG2I7XZ7Nd5FBBwIduxOv_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1xhGLnyweEGm648w-2Bvu6tW9yH7If7QETPuihEi14R1xzcaQK7Y-2BxAg5ducJFRIEEDfcASqGjMvn33-2BhncZrYMDH6GnYY-2FHi982nbIMg7Wk1SMwngbPeG4q0L7f1NJZIOJsD-2BcawRB0zOPx5r0DQDW50Q-3D-3D>).

Long Answer:

Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing contest sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (LOC). Students in 4th – 12th grades write a letter to any author, living or not, explaining how that author's book changed their way of thinking about the world or themselves.

The LOC asks teachers to allow students to choose a book that is meaningful to them and asks students to explain *why* or *how* the book was significant to them instead of summarizing the plot. The focus of a participant's letter is to make clear the connection one has with a book.

Here's what Lynette Gottlieb, a teacher in Corvallis, had to say about the contest:

Letters about Literature was a completely positive experience for my students...importantly, some of my students who do not identify as writers, and do not generally enjoy the experience, were able to write about something meaningful to them and participate in an inclusive contest that also recognized them...the process connects them to the human experience of literature. It supports my English classroom where I give students choice about reading whenever possible and teach that literature and writing are first and foremost about communication.

There are three competition levels: Level I for 4th-6th graders, Level II for 7th-8th graders, and Level III for 9th-12th graders.

For the first time, entries must be submitted online instead of being mailed. The submission link will be available on November 1st: http://www.read.gov/letters/states-list.html#oregon<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uY5GwHQXcTUJiHSd9kZ-2BRe5QgrppD0578VXKl6g-2BlD4Ctz4XFIQFsYmhcd0S-2BWl3TA-3D-3D_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1xiymEEqDUQ58t8HXc4S3eQ8NwBoLa3VeiIhtMhrvV2q5Lslkee-2FPjrBJR-2FCR6eXoXewJ3idPwcl-2BRsjCEQBgTmdCp8VX5GWpqsx8R6OXCoPwMMBijz3NT6dVYskE4VlTMq7eiiB6HjHxAl-2BA9a-2F5elw-3D-3D>. All entries must be submitted online to the Library of Congress by December 14, 2018. I recommend that you read the page for Teachers (http://www.read.gov/letters/teachers.html<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uY5GwHQXcTUJiHSd9kZ-2BRe6qeWP6mOuiB9XF0wTnhFcP2GmvNJWI5hHRL9Uq6EAtRg-3D-3D_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1xlYWOOB4KhtIsOdQJak7Qu136xbiuUvNzQJsQRrxuNYNBe0Q3nzW7D-2B7KZ6gUHHJZPE9uyR1YrN2-2Bb7-2F9aNvVSv5Waf-2FnG3hMnm6jRHBZ44KFtXBKtCzj3sPDasuMBJBv9FOVirysSmZ6GBOYBcAq8g-3D-3D>) and the FAQ (http://www.read.gov/letters/faq.html<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uY5GwHQXcTUJiHSd9kZ-2BRe7CG2I7XZ7Nd5FBBwIduxOv_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1xAINMXQXVLLk56HxRWVwlJ9-2FALw6o6cC2JmhfIJt07VTuJph3NMp9fmJtUAxDqRRpCy3Nd-2BGnPNPHFesPOzNyCEi9GPqeK31GVqcHLXrDM7NSjKd-2BPPmrwEBQB4Iwbo9kJ6Ov8eND1hVLWhSTBACurw-3D-3D>) to learn about the new submission process, the new requirement that students under 13 submit a permission form, word limits for letters, and more.

In the past for Oregon, letters that made it through two rounds of judging at the national level were sent to the State Library where staff coordinated local judging. Top letters for each competition level were selected -- winner, runner-up, and honorable mentions. Winning letters were then sent back to the LOC to compete for recognition at the national level. Then the State Library hosted a celebration to recognize all of the students with top letters in Oregon. Since the State Library no longer coordinates LAL in Oregon and since no other group has taken over Oregon's participation, there will be no local judging and no local celebration. Instead, staff at the LOC will judge entries from Oregon students to determine the one letter for each age category that will represent Oregon in the final round of judging to select national winners.

You are welcome to participate as a library activity, to encourage homeschooling students to enter on their own, or to encourage teachers to participate with their classes.

Those with questions about this year’s Letters About Literature program may contact Anne Holmes at the LOC: http://www.read.gov/letters/contact.html<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uY5GwHQXcTUJiHSd9kZ-2BRe7RT-2FWzjV5dgpPCUsgvmyDl_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1xbdAt-2B7nbVS-2BkpGrVI0wadx1PY8c1jkBM4mh8dvpJ1v6ApTXOLMNppwGWAcEK0Y84U6dpvXJIUv1fLGl-2BBzeGs7mc6jftXGvJEjVvKQoH-2FDxKJa864UumijaQE2ZQlGSAZB29Rja6kn2YByn7TW6xqA-3D-3D>.

Thanks,
Jen

Jen Maurer, MLS
School Library Consultant
State Library of Oregon |Library Support and Development
jennifer.maurer at state.or.us<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us> | 503-378-5011 |  www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://clicks.memberclicks-mail.net/wf/click?upn=JldG-2FXlPN4LqtW3GIhX2uSnquIw-2FgLirICuQB3-2BNAWDHtSgnE85yCYA9ecMMQP4y_cthq0z3adJO3eRdfaqambligC7nDaI0TdQox-2FrFVazfBgs98R0eahCjA8XBFR2wlDUZVKcPxf7cjl4PZP3TkWwaMSPbpFbCNYDlgZvk7Ui4mjUr5IMcMiNjVTa2YUqrIsaIdXJ8DXMHLkMqdTcznNBQYNWOws9vS6tM8cqicELUZuFtGFwRREUsftWTSn-2F1x-2B9JBJk9BaX2oEoVE4WrCF1bELbHYgTE90wYFDDPpQUtDEsE0T71gxGatHmfaHnOLTOREf9-2F0WBYU4hdSq0M6lJu9zPGCIDkKPOBMkvW3-2FlOTYtLET0s8JIr2uRUhGccrQbr4-2F-2BmBN8JxHyMRDgd6AA-3D-3D>
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