Letters About Literature is a state-wide reading and writing program in Nebraska for students in grades 4-12, encouraging them to write personal letters to any author explaining how their work impacted their worldview. The program is coordinated by the Nebraska Center for the Book, with submission and judging processes outlined. Libraries can engage by partnering with schools, promoting resources, and hosting letter-writing clinics.

1. NCompass Live – November 3rd, 2021

2. What is LettersAbout Literature?
• It’s a state-wide reading and writing program
• It’s for young readers in grades 4-12
• They write a personal letter to an author
• Any author (living or dead)
• Any genre-fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic
• They must explain how that author’s work changed
the student’s view of the world

4. What is the Nebraska Center for the Book?
• Mission
• Why Letters About Literature
Competition in Nebraska?
• How is Nebraska LAL different
from the past national
competition?
ChristineWalsh, Kearney Public Library Assistant Director & Nebraska Center for the Book President

5. What’s the story on the Nebraska Center for the
Book’s participation in Letters About Literature?
• History
• Stories
• Prizes/Awards
• Fun

6. How can libraries be involved?
• Partner with classroom teachers
• Promote the library as the place to find the book that makes a difference.
• Share the LAL materials with your library users.
• Challenge adults to write their own letters as examples.
• Recruit writing mentors from local writing groups or college classes.
• Work with your local homeschool group.
• Host a letter-writing clinic for students in your area.

7. Let’s take a look at the submission process:
- All letters are submitted online on the NCB Letters
About Literature webpage.
- Student’s under the age of 13 (as of Nov. 1, 2020) must
have a parent/guardian’s consent to submit.
- All submitted letters become the property of the NCB.
- Please keep a personal copy of your letter, as we do
not return them.

8. How letters are judged:
- Audience.Who are you writing to?
- Purpose.
- Grammar.
- Originality.
Who judges?
-Two judges for each Level
- Selected by the NCB

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geChgxnJ8V4

11. Where can you find resources?
• Nebraska Center for the Book LAL webpage:
centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html
• NCBWriting Clinic Resources:
http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL_Grant/2020/index.as
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• Connect on Social Media: www.facebook.com/NebraskaCenterfortheBook/

12. Who makes it all possible?
The annual reflective writing competition is sponsored by the Nebraska Center for
the Book.
Letters About Literature is coordinated and sponsored in Nebraska by:
• Nebraska Center for the Book
• Nebraska Library Commission
• Houchen Bindery, Ltd.
• Chapters Bookstore in Seward

13. For more information, contact:
tessa.terry@nebraska.gov