Dear Utah School Librarians,

I am thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity to participate in the development of a statewide "Battle of the Books" competition. This initiative aims to promote reading, literacy, comprehension, and critical thinking among students across Utah. It will also foster collaboration, communication, and teamwork, serving as a positive and enriching activity championed by the passionate and dedicated school librarians of Utah 🎉

What is the Battle of the Books?

This competition (official name to be determined by the committee) is designed to:

Promote reading, literacy, comprehension, and critical thinking skills 🧠 among Utah students.
Foster collaboration, communication, and teamwork. 🤝
Create an engaging and enriching activity championed by the USBE. 🌟
Reinforce our commitment to educational excellence and prioritizing literacy. 📚

How can you be involved?

We are forming three committees (Elementary, Middle, and High School) that will play a crucial role in shaping the competition by:

2024-2025 School Year:

Choosing a captivating name for the competition! 🤔
Selecting the book lists for each level 📖
Developing the competition framework and rules 📝
Creating training materials and resources for participating schools 💻
Designing a promotional plan to generate excitement and participation 📢
Creating tools for gathering feedback and ensuring continuous improvement 📈
Establishing an awards and recognition plan to celebrate student achievement 🥇

2025-2026 School Year:

Launching and supporting the first year of the competition! 🚀

Commitment and Benefits:

Committees will meet virtually on a monthly basis. 💻
Your expertise and insights will directly shape a statewide literacy initiative. 💡
You'll have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow librarians across Utah. 👥
This is a chance to promote literacy and a love of reading statewide. ❤️
A stipend of approximately $600 per librarian for their dedicated time and effort. 💰

Join the Battle of the Books Committee!

If you are interested in participating on a committee, please complete this short form by January 8, 2025. 📝

Your expertise and dedication to literacy are invaluable to the success of this initiative. I am excited to work together to create an engaging and impactful reading competition for our students.

Warm regards,

Join the USBE Library Media list serve

LEAs have the duty to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core standards for Utah public schools and graduation requirements. (UCA 53G-4-402(1(a)). Posting of resources by USBE staff curriculum content specialists does not imply the resources have received official endorsement of the State Board. Educators are responsible to ensure use of these materials complies with LEA policies and directives.