Buff School Librarian, Andrea Hardgrave, works on checking out books to a fifth grade class.
Last school year, our libraries saw more students expressing interest in checking out books. 32,430 books were checked out. That is the most checkouts we’ve seen in a single year in seven whole years! That number also represents the third highest total over a 10-year span.
We have our school librarians to thank for the increased interest in our libraries. The work they’ve been performing over the past four years has been extraordinary. Librarians have been updating their collections through student input, professional networks and conferences. This was all possible thanks to a grant our district acquired in 2020.
Not only did students browse their library collections more frequently and check out more books, they also had greater success in statewide reading initiatives such as the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB).
Both Buff and Madras Elementary schools made the Elite 8 at the regional tournament last year. The regional tournament consisted of teams from Wasco, Crook, Grant, Harney, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. Having two teams make the Elite 8 at the highly competitive tournament was a first for our district.
At the secondary level, Jefferson County Middle School finished first at a tournament in Redmond and earned a bronze medal at the regional tournament in Bend, just missing out on a berth to state. The two top teams at the regional tournament qualify for state.
JCMS School Librarian, Kesley Garcia, checking out a book to a student.
Not to be outdone, the White Buffaloes of Madras High School defeated Baker City in the regional final and punched the school’s first ever trip to the state tournament in Salem.
With the new school year underway, our libraries are already in the process of building on their success from last year. New book orders have been submitted, checkouts are occurring and planning is underway for another successful season of OBOB!