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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Attention teachers and librarians who work with children and teens in 4<sup>th</sup>—12<sup>th</sup>
grades:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=6
color="#cc0000" face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:24.0pt;
color:#CC0000'>Letters About Literature 2010 has begun! </span></font><font
size=4 color="#cc0000"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#CC0000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>All entries must be
postmarked </span></font><b><font size=4 color=green><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;color:green;font-weight:bold'>December 12, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a
href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/LD/youthsvcs/aboutlit.shtml">http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/LD/youthsvcs/aboutlit.shtml</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing
contest. Students write letters to an author explaining how that
author's book changed their way of thinking about the world or
themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for
4th-6th graders, Level II for 7th-8th graders, and Level III for 9th-12th
graders. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>'s
three winners (one from each competition level) will go on to compete nationally.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Librarians and teachers can download and print entry forms, bookmarks,
and stickers to distribute to your students and patrons at: Lesson plans and an
outline connecting Letters About Literature to national language arts and
reading standards are available at:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>All contest materials are available to download and print online:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Contest guidelines
and entry forms: <a href="http://tiny.cc/oDowF">http://tiny.cc/oDowF</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Lesson Plans: <a
href="http://tiny.cc/FtMlm">http://tiny.cc/FtMlm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Bookmarks: <a
href="http://tiny.cc/uMDVy">http://tiny.cc/uMDVy</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Stickers: <a
href="http://tiny.cc/4Dd4M">http://tiny.cc/4Dd4M</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Poster: <a
href="http://tiny.cc/896Yq">http://tiny.cc/896Yq</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In 2009 almost 1,200 students in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>
entered the contest, and 1 in 11 of them received <b><font color="#cc0000"><span
style='color:#CC0000;font-weight:bold'>cash prizes</span></font></b> or <b><font
color="#cc0000"><span style='color:#CC0000;font-weight:bold'>gift certificates
to Borders</span></font></b> bookstore. These prizes are made possible through
support from the Oregon Reading Association, Oregon Association of School
Libraries, and the Oregon Library Association's Children Services Division and
Young Adult network.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>At the national level 6 winners and 12 honorable mentions
will be selected. National winners receive a $500 Target gift certificate
and a <b><font color="#cc0000"><span style='color:#CC0000;font-weight:bold'>$10,000
grant</span></font></b> to donate to the public or school library of the
winner's choice. Honorable mentions receive a $100 Target gift
certificate and a <b><font color="#cc0000"><span style='color:#CC0000;
font-weight:bold'>$1,000 grant</span></font></b> to donate to the public
or school library of their choice. Last year two of the national honor award
winners were from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State></st1:place>!
The $1,000 donations went to <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Parkrose</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Middle School</st1:PlaceType> library and St. Mary’s Academy
both in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Portland</st1:place></st1:City>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Letters About Literature, and the national prizes, are possible thanks
to the Center of the Book in the Library of Congress and Target Corporation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>For more information contact <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Katie Anderson</st1:PersonName>,
coordinator of the Letters About Literature activities in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><st1:PersonName
w:st="on"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Katie
Anderson</span></font></st1:PersonName>, Library Development Services<br>
* Youth Services Consultant * <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the Book
Coordinator *<br>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType>
Library, 250 Winter <st1:City w:st="on">St.</st1:City> <st1:State w:st="on">NE</st1:State>,
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Salem</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">OR</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">97301</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><br>
<a href="mailto:katie.anderson@state.or.us">katie.anderson@state.or.us</a>,
503-378-2528<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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