[Libs-Or] Connections: Your Link to the State Library of Oregon (February 2024)

Fri Feb 9 10:37:50 PST 2024

View this email in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/207481b1c64f/connections-your-link-to-the-state-library-of-oregon-february-2024?e=dfd4bc041d>
[Connections: your link to the state library of Oregon newsletter header]
Volume 34, Issue 1 - February 2024
In This Issue:

  *   A Visit from Oregon Author, Tina Ontiveros
  *   OrDoc Feature: Published in 1924
  *   Oregon Libraries Supporting Communities During the Pandemic
  *   Teen Internship Grant Program
  *   Connections Survey<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=621c73ae30&e=dfd4bc041d>
[https://mcusercontent.com/91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03/images/04f9b5a8-9b40-5cec-949e-6b14a1b9ab15.jpg]
A Visit from Oregon Author, Tina Ontiveros
By Max Robinson, Administrative Specialist & Recording Studio Coordinator, Talking Book & Braille Library
[Jennifer Imai - rough house narrator, Wendy Cornelisen - State librarian, Max Robinson - Recording Studio Coordinator, and Tina Ontiveros - Author of rough house during State Library of Oregon Visit]
This past December, Oregon Talking Books welcomed Oregon author, Tina Ontiveros, to the State Library. Regular readers of Connections may recall that Tina is the 2021 Pacific Northwest Book Award<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=563eae69ed&e=dfd4bc041d> winning author of rough house: a memoir<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=7ddd9d7cf2&e=dfd4bc041d>, a book that we recently added to the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) catalog<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=6ab14247a6&e=dfd4bc041d>.

Recorded and edited here in Oregon in 2023, rough house tells the story of Tina’s upbringing in a variety of rural logging communities in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980’s. The memoir’s tale has a baby Tina coming home into the woods of Headquarters, Idaho; learning to ride a bike in the timber outlets of Packwood and Clallam Bay, Washington; visiting her brother in the harbor of Ketchikan, Alaska; and finally moving south with her family into Oregon’s Camas Valley and The Dalles. It is a dark and poetic glimpse into the many perils of chronic poverty and domestic abuse, but mostly it is a love letter to her dad, Loyd, a loving and lovable yet sadly troubled man.

We couldn’t have done it without our narrator for the book, Jennifer M. Imai. Jennifer is a longtime volunteer with the State Library, having recorded hundreds of hours of books for us outside of her other work with Audible and Learning Ally<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=e496cca251&e=dfd4bc041d>. During the pandemic when production in our own studio came to a halt, Jennifer graciously offered her professional skills to record and edit titles at her in-home studio, which she continues to do to this date.

Jennifer joined the visit with Tina, bringing together the author and the voice for a celebration of the completed work, which included a tour of the library and recording studio, a small reception, and a signing of the book cover. The framed cover has been placed in the studio to honor the occasion, beginning a Talking Books decorative wall of fame to highlight our Oregon authored/Oregon recorded books.

During the tour, we took the opportunity to get Tina into the studio booth and ask her a special question to share with users of the Oregon Talking Book and Braille Library<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=950425bdcb&e=dfd4bc041d>:
“What does it mean to you to know that readers with print impairments all across the country are now able to read and enjoy your book?”

Tina had this to share in response:
“The first thing I think of when I hear this question is that I’m just really grateful for the work that you all do. You know, I grew up without access to a lot of things, so creating access and inclusivity is just a really base value for me. Whether you did this with rough house or not, I’m just very grateful for the work you’re doing to create access for people.

When I think about it in terms of my own book, I think about every time another person reaches out to me to tell me they’ve read it and what their human emotional reaction was. It feels like a miracle because I think of literature as almost like a physical space that exists outside of physical space and time; a place where people who’ve never met can meet. Until now, there were a lot of people excluded from meeting me in that space, but this creates an avenue or a threshold that more people can cross to meet me in that space, so I think that’s really beautiful and I’m really grateful for it.”

As we wrapped up our time together, we made certain to ask Tina if she had any other books in the works. She shared that she is currently working on a few different projects and would keep us in the loop so that we could get her next book into production whenever it becomes available. For now, Oregon Talking Books users can check out rough house<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=3e7adc5f66&e=dfd4bc041d> with their next round of books, and can excitedly await more Oregon authored/Oregon recorded audio books, coming to the NLS catalog soon!
[Tina Ontiveros, author of rough house in State Library of Oregon recording studio and Max Robinson Recording Studio Coordinator recording Tina's audio interview]
OrDoc Feature: Published in 1924
By Jey Wann, Oregon Documents Coordinator, Government Information & Library Services
[Cover of "A Liberal and Practical Education" and tabulation of subjects studied by students, both published in 1924]
At the beginning of the year, it’s fun to look back and see what state government was publishing 100 years ago.

The Department of Education published a tabulation<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=11b4e41979&e=dfd4bc041d> of the subjects Oregon high school students were studying in 1924. Many of the subjects are familiar to us today, including English, music, and biology. But some, such as Latin and blacksmithing, are less likely to be taught in 21st-century schools.

In 1924, Oregon State University (OSU), then Oregon Agricultural College, published a brochure titled A Liberal and Practical Education<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=f93f293780&e=dfd4bc041d> which gives an overview of the college’s programs and campus life. The brochure includes photos of campus events and buildings, giving an enticing glimpse of higher education in the early 20th century. Many of the programs, and some of the buildings, still exist at OSU.

Best wishes in 2024 from the Oregon Documents Depository Program<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=786c47a031&e=dfd4bc041d>!
Oregon Libraries Supporting Communities During the Pandemic
By Tamara Ottum, Federal Programs and Grants Consultant, Library Support & Development Services
[Timeweb screen shot of George Putnam Riley]
During the pandemic, Oregon libraries, schools, and museums stepped up to provide vital resources and services to their communities. Thanks to $3,305,273 in one-time federal CARES Act and ARPA stimulus funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the State Library of Oregon was able to fund over 200 such projects across the state.

Oregon libraries and museums used these federal funds to foster digital equity and inclusion, increase access to services, respond to community needs, support student success, and strengthen the workforce. Highlights include: 

  *   Crook County Library added wayfinding signage in Spanish. 
  *   The Oregon Historical Society updated TimeWeb.<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=c25a569d6f&e=dfd4bc041d>
  *   Rogue Community College Library added lockers for after-hours pickup of library materials. 
  *   The Wallowa Band Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center create  History in the Making: A Tamkaliks Film Project<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=3485109030&e=dfd4bc041d>.
  *   Curry Public Library added a soundproof booth that patrons ca  use to participate in virtual meetings and interviews. 

The projects are summarized in two reports, showcasing a myriad of ways Oregon libraries and museums impacted the lives of Oregonians by supporting their communities during the pandemic.  

  *   CARES Act Spending, October 2020 - September 2021<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=1a2ebe5986&e=dfd4bc041d> 
  *   ARPA Spending, June 2021 - March 2023<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=d174604e05&e=dfd4bc041d>

While this one-time funding is now complete, the impact of the work will continue for many years to come.
Teen Internship Grant Program
By Greta Bergquist, Youth Services Consultant, Library Support & Development Services
[Float made by Teen intern featuring banner reading "We Love Books, Reading is Fun"]
The Teen Internship Grant program, started in 2022, offers funds to Oregon libraries to foster growth and connections between libraries and teens through summer internships. This program offers small grants to fund a summer library internship for local high school juniors or seniors. Internship options support teens development of professional experience, increases their understanding of the work libraries do, and gives insight into how their particular interests and skills align with library work or their future endeavors.

We were inspired by similar programs across the nation, from Brooklyn’s (NY) Librarians of Tomorrow<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=694c6f0b59&e=dfd4bc041d>, to the Public Library Association’s Inclusive Internship Initiative<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=a5761c297f&e=dfd4bc041d>, to Kitsap (WA) Regional Library’s Community Learning Internship<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=93d3e51033&e=dfd4bc041d> program.

Additionally, this internship gives library staff the opportunity to develop leadership, communication, and coaching skills as they work with their teen intern to develop a connected learning<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=fb48e0d2ec&e=dfd4bc041d> project. Over the course of their internship, teens focus on enhancing a variety of skills by working in areas where the library needs support. This means the internship looks different in every library, as every teen and every community are unique.

Projects from the past two years included running a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) camp for summer reading participants, creating a community garden space on library grounds, and library outreach at the local farmers market. At the end of the summer, libraries share the projects their teens accomplished. You can learn more on the Teen Internship Grant website<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=32f6cadb9d&e=dfd4bc041d>, view the Teen Internship Grant Project presentation,<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=31bbd98f8a&e=dfd4bc041d> or view Teen Internship Grant Project slides<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=1570fdd0a5&e=dfd4bc041d>.

In the past two years, we have seen teen participants gain trusted mentors in library staff and community members. We have also seen teen interns develop new skills, confidence, and ideas for their future goals or study as they learned new things about themselves and their communities. Library staff have learned new ways of supporting teens, as well as strengthened their relationships with community partners. Several of our grantees have even received continued funding for future internships in their library’s budget from other sources including their cities or other youth employment grants. We are thrilled with this success and excited for the future. As more teens have the opportunity to engage with libraries and libraries have the opportunity to expand their support for teens, we can build stronger communities.

Applications open for this year’s Teen Internship Grant February 15th! We are looking forward to supporting a new cohort of libraries and teens and seeing all the awesome work that will happen this summer.
[21 people in front of mural as part of Teen intern project]
Connections Survey
We want to hear from you!  Please take our 3-minute Connections survey<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=e7f9d16f67&e=dfd4bc041d> by February 23, 2024 to help us determine an ideal publishing cycle for this newsletter. Thanks!
[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 Manager
Elke Bruton<mailto:elke.bruton at slo.oregon.gov>, 971-375-3509

Government Information & Library Services Manager
Vacant

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.
[Facebook icon]<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=48b386c8ae&e=dfd4bc041d>
[Instagram icon]<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=f38a385e14&e=dfd4bc041d>
[Twitter icon]<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=cc82a7be61&e=dfd4bc041d>
[Website icon]<https://oregon.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=91dd1172fce9a235a5e993c03&id=2b22035c85&e=dfd4bc041d>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20240209/d36f0fb0/attachment.html>