Desert View Elementary School and Sunset Elementary School are recipients of Oregon Battle of the Books Grants for the 2010-2011 School Year.

DVES is one of four Oregon elementary level schools to receive a full OBOB Grant for the 2010-2011 school year. Desert View will receive five copies of twelve of the sixteen titles, for a total of 60 books for the 2010-2011 competition. Funding for the grant was provided by the Library Services and Technology Act/Oregon Association of School Libraries Grant.

In 2009-2010 Highland Hills Elementary Schools received the full grant, and West Park Elementary School was a recipient for the 2008-2009 school year.

Sunset received a partial grant, and it will receive two copies of all sixteen titles for a total of 32 books. Kristi Smalley, the district-wide elementary instructional media specialist, applied for the grants.

All five elementary schools will participate in OBOB competitions during the 2010-2011 school year. This is possible with the support of the building principals and the 4th and 5th grade teachers.

The Battle of the Books program got its start in the Hermiston School District at Highland Hills about 30 years ago by 4th Grade Teacher Linda Turner. BOB competitions have occurred at every elementary building over the past years, depending on library staffing and funding. With the support of the state-wide competition, it is exciting that the District is able to provide this valuable program at all five elementary buildings next year.

The creation of the OBOB is due in part to the efforts of Jan Nichols and Allen Kopf, both board members for OASL and librarians at the HSD and Umatilla School District, respectively. The OBOB program includes competitions at the building, regional and state-wide levels.

“One of the many benefits of the OBOB program is that the students are exposed to a variety of quality and diverse literature, not just the popular, short, or picture books,” said Smalley. “It is exciting that the students have the opportunity to read and enjoy the books and possibly compete at the regional or state levels.”

Additional information, including the titles of the books to be included in next year’s competition, can be found at http://oboblsta.pbworks.com.