The Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) is pleased to announce its READ On! Ohio Award for Children & Teens is open to nominations from Ohio school library media specialists and public library staff beginning February 5, 2024.

Created in 2015, The READ On! Ohio Award recognizes Ohio K-12 students who are enthusiastic readers and enjoy being in the school and/or public library using the many services available. The student must be enrolled in an Ohio K-12 school at the time of nomination.

The READ On! Ohio Award recipient will be selected from applicants and nominees who meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Demonstrates an enthusiasm for reading

• Exhibits an enthusiasm for sharing books with others

• Uses books for a variety of purposes

• Reads independently on a voluntary basis

• Uses the school and/or public library frequently

Recipients are selected by the OELMA Awards Committee.  Up to sixteen recipients are selected according to grade band (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12) and region (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest).  See the list of READ On! Counties by region.

The recipients each receive a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card and commemorative certificate during the OELMA Annual Conference. Each recipient’s name will be announced through the OELMA listserv, website and social media. In addition, each recipient’s school's public information officer will be notified through a press release.

To nominate a student, complete and upload the OELMA READ On! Ohio Award for Children & Teens application form which requires a 250-word rationale that speaks to how the student meets at least two of the following criteria: 1) demonstrates an enthusiasm for reading; 2) exhibits an enthusiasm for sharing books with others; 3) uses books for a variety of purposes; 4) reads independently on a voluntary basis; 5) uses the school and/or public library frequently. Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. April 1, 2024.

The nominator of each winning nominee will be notified by email about their nominee’s selection for the award. The nominator is expected to contact the winning nominee with the award selection results.