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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro",sans-serif">Sending on behalf of OELMA. Cross-posted; please excuse duplication.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Dear Public Librarians and Library Workers,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) is once again sponsoring the
<b>READ On! Ohio Award for Children & Teens</b>. The nomination window opens next Monday, February 16, and nominations will be accepted through Monday, March 23. The
<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uL8aQzbagM_HbFTOQ1Ko4ypSGuUwU7xy?usp=sharing">
2026 READ ON! Ohio Resource Folder</a> includes a press release, flyer, and directions for library staff on how to nominate a student.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">The READ On! Ohio Award for Children & Teens is an award given to a maximum of sixteen students enrolled in Ohio K-12 schools who demonstrate
an enthusiasm for reading. Each recipient receives a $25 gift card from Barnes & Noble, a certificate, and an opportunity to attend the awards celebration at the annual OELMA Conference, held in November at OCLC, northwest of Columbus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">This is a special year for the READ On! Award and for OELMA, as 2026 marks OELMA’s 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary, a significant milestone
marking five decades of advocacy for school librarians and school libraries.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">2026 is also the fifth year that public library staff have been invited to nominate students for this award. OELMA is grateful for
the enthusiastic support of public library staff in nominating their students. <a href="https://www.oelma.org/read-on-ohio!">
Visit the OELMA website for more details on the award</a> and use the files in the
<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uL8aQzbagM_HbFTOQ1Ko4ypSGuUwU7xy?usp=drive_link">
Resource Folder</a> to publicize the award, share with your coworkers, and prepare to nominate students!
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Questions? Reach out to Susan Yutzey at
<a href="mailto:oelmasdy@gmail.com" target="_blank">oelmasdy@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="96" height="96" style="width:1.0in;height:1.0in" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4yq7yAyPItPMbpAjvsxH_-jfvd5V1vQe9n3dwMUPrycD3V2vPP4zZZtM512BIJV_y7ELdY_YY4"></span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="200" height="50" style="width:2.0833in;height:.525in" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4xKRHvsyUslDWom3Tjcb86_kkVQObfhSlCxxFfJ4uSpo17spNtAjUx7V4gEzqN89MTQPpuLpvM"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">Susan D. Yutzey, PhD</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif">OELMA Past President</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:oelmasdy@gmail.com" target="_blank">oelmasdy@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Source Sans Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="248" height="74" style="width:2.5833in;height:.775in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01DB7C60.E7B3B360" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Janet Ingraham Dwyer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Youth Services Library Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Library Programs & Development</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">614.644.6910<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:jdwyer@library.ohio.gov"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">jdwyer@library.ohio.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1">library.ohio.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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