What is the ORCA?
The Oregon Reader’s Choice Award was founded in 2010. The award is intended to be a fun and exciting way for Oregon youth in grades 3-12 to become enthusiastic and discriminating readers. During the course of the school year, Oregon students choose their favorite book in a real-life democratic process.
How are the books chosen?
Books must be nominated for inclusion on the ORCA ballot. In order to be considered, the book needs to have a copyright date of two years prior to when the ballots are announced. This delay ensures that the title will be readily available in paperback during the voting year. Oregon students, teachers, and librarians are all able to nominate books. The nominations are reviewed by a committee of librarians and educators. The committee creates the final ballots based upon a number of criteria, including literary quality, creativity, reading enjoyment, reading level, and regional interest.
Who may vote?
Oregon students in grades 3-12. To qualify for voting, the person must have read, or listened to, at least 2 books in one of the divisions.
When does voting take place?
Voting is open from March 1st through March 31st.
The current ORCA Committee
CHAIR:
MacKenzie Ross (Beaverton City Library)
email: orca@olaweb.org
MEMBERS:
OLA’s Oregon Young Adult Network (OYAN)
Elizabeth Johnson (Corvallis-Benton County Public Library)
Amy Korst (Willamina High School)
Anna Bruce (Happy Valley Library)
Oregon State Literacy Association (OSLA)
Beth LaForce (George Fox University)
Anna Moser (Alsea School)
Carol Lauritzen (OSLA)
OLA’s Childrens Services Division (CSD)
Taylor Worley (Springfield Public Library)
Deborah VanDetta (Estacada Public Library)
Bekah Westmark (Coos Bay Public Library)
OLA’s Oregon Association of School Librarians (OASL)
Grace Butler (Whitman Elementary School, Portland)
Jen Blair (Beaverton Public Schools)
Lori Lieberman (Lincoln High School, Portland)
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
Billie Bloebaum (A Children’s Place Bookstore, Portland)
