Students at Reed Intermediate School recently took part in a "2016 Book-et List Election."

According to Reed library/media specialist Pia Ledina, students were asked to submit their favorite book, book series, or author for a "Candidate List" by October 28. An "electoral map" was created for the election process and was put on view outside the Library Media Center to help students through the following voting process.

During the weekend before Halloween, Ms Ledina gathered all of the ballots and prepared a giant list of books that included student requests and books.

"I then separated the giant list into two 'Candidate' lists (Blue and Green) that would inspire conversation, thinking and decision-making, with the intent of purchasing the winning list for the LMC,' Ms Ledina wrote in an e-mail on November 15.

Students had the opportunity to review, discuss, and ponder the two 'Candidate Lists' before the final vote was held on November 4.

That day, Ms Ledina said, a popular vote was held in each homeroom, during which she said faculty and staff explained to the students that their vote would inform their "electors" (Student Council representatives and alternates) how to vote on the students' behalf.

"As results came in, we colored the homerooms on our Electoral Map outside the LMC in either blue or green, just as the news stations colored their electoral maps red and blue," Ms Ledina said. "Based upon the popular vote, the Blue list was the winner.

"But, as we all know, that's not the end of the election story..." Ms Ledina continued.

She said all the student representatives were then gathered in the Library Media Center on November 7.

"With the knowledge of which list was preferred in each homeroom, electors cast their ballots and the ultimate winner was announced on Wednesday, November 9. Our Reed Electoral College vote mirrored the popular vote (although we know that some electors did not vote the way of their homeroom, as is their right). And the Blue List has been ordered through Byrd's Books in Bethel."

Ms Ledina also said she and library clerk Lisa Krapf were thrilled with the response to the 2016 Book-et List Election.