OLA Hotline’s Blog

OLA Names 2008 Award Winners / Check Out the New Oregon Authors Bibliographies / Buy Your Copy of Stubborn Twig Now / SSD Nominations Committee Seeks Candidates

OLA Names 2008 Award Winners

Oregon Librarian of the Year: Michael Gaston - Deschutes
Honorary Life Membership: Richard Turi - North Bend
OLA Distinguished Service Award: Jan Griffin - Eugene
Oregon Library Supporter of the Year: Stayton Public Library Foundation - Stayton

The Oregon Library Association honored award winners in a ceremony at the 2008 Joint Oregon Library Association (OLA)/Washington Library Association Conference (WLA) on Friday, April 18.

The Oregon Librarian of the Year is Michael Gaston, Director of Deschutes Public Library. Gaston was recognized for his exemplary contributions to libraries over the past 30 years. He has served as secretary, treasurer, and president of the Oregon Library Association. He led efforts to form both the Siuslaw and Deschutes library districts. Three libraries were built and 13 library funding measures were approved during his tenures at the two library systems. In accepting the award, Gaston, who will retire in January 2009, challenged the next generation of library staff to continue to “fight the good fight” to build Oregon’s public libraries.

The Honorary Life Membership award was presented to architect Richard Turi of North Bend. Turi has designed 23 library projects statewide, including new buildings, expansions, and remodels. His work comprises “an amazing legacy . . . that will never be equaled in the history of Oregon libraries,” according to State Librarian Jim Scheppke.

Jan Griffin of Eugene Public Library was honored with the Oregon Library Association Distinguished Service Award for “excellence in library service to her community.” Griffin has worked in Oregon libraries for over 35 years and has worked at Eugene Public Library since 1977. She has contributed greatly to the development of the Support Staff Division of the OLA, frequently as an officer, including her present position as Treasurer. This award recognizes Griffin’s “excellence in library service to her community.”

The winner of the award for Oregon Library Supporter of the Year is the Stayton Public Library Foundation. The non-profit group’s capitol campaign raised nearly 2.5 million to build a major addition onto the Stayton Public Library at no direct cost to City taxpayers.

For more information, contact the Oregon Library Association: www.olaweb.org
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Check out the New Oregon Authors Bibliography
Check out the new Oregon Authors Bibliography, 2006-2007, an Oregon Library Association publication. The series (1932-) identifies juvenile literature as well as books about Oregon and serves as a reference guide for collection development and speaker engagements for libraries.
This double issue with over 350 entries costs $30.00 and can be ordered online at the Oregon Library Association website:

https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=ola&formId=27383

If you need more information about this outstanding resource, please call Kim Willson-St. Clair, Oregon Authors chairperson, at 503.726.4552 or willsons@pdx.edu.
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Buy Your Copy of Stubborn Twig Now
Buy your reading copies of Lauren Kessler’s Stubborn Twig to start planning for Oregon Reads 2009 now! This special edition of Stubborn Twig can be purchased online at the Oregon Library Association website:

https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=ola&formId=43160

The cost is $12.00 per copy (plus shipping) of the out-of-print trade edition that was published by the Oregon Historical Society. The new Oregon Reads edition will not be available from the OSU Press until October 2008.

If you need more information about this limited edition, please call Kim Willson-St. Clair, Oregon Authors chairperson, at 503.726.4552 or write to willsons@pdx.edu.
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SSD Nominations Committee Seeking Candidates

The Oregon Library Association Support Staff Division (SSD) is seeking nominees for the following positions on the SSD Executive Committee. These are all great positions and a wonderful way to get involved with SSD and the Oregon Library Association. If you would like to run for office or would like to suggest someone as a potential candidate, please email Suzanne Sager at sagers@pdx.edu by May 31, 2008. If you are nominating another person, please include contact information.

Chair Elect (3 year commitment)-Serves as Chair-Elect in the first year, SSD Chair in the second year and Past-Chair in the third year. The duties of the Chair-Elect include assisting the Chair; becoming familiar with the by-law and procedures of the Association and Division; Chairing the SSD meetings in the Chair’s absence; and serving as the Chair of the SSD Conference Committee. The duties of the Chair include assuming responsibility for the general direction and program planning of SSD; attending the OLA Executive Board meetings as a voting member and reporting on the activities of SSD. The duties of the Past Chair include serving as the Chair of the Nominating Committee; securing a location for the following year’s conference and attending OLA Executive Board meetings in the Chair’s absence.

Treasurer (2 year commitment)-duties include maintaining records of all expenditures and profits for the division. The Treasurer has approval authority for all expenditures below $250 and obtains the signature of the SSD Chair for all expenditures above this amount.

Recorder (1 year commitment)-duties include recording minutes of the SSD Executive Committee meetings and providing copies of the minutes to the members of the committee before the next meeting.

Archivist (1 year commitment)-duties include maintaining all historical data, scrapbook and photo album of SSD Conference and other events; and keeping copies of the conference program and accompanying material.
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