Twelve rural libraries received grants from the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) recently. Six public libraries in Vermont and six public libraries in New Hampshire will receive funds for the 2017-2018 school year, according to a May 23 news release.
CLiF’s Rural Libraries Grant enables rural public libraries in New Hampshire and Vermont, many of whom face stagnant budgets and limited resources, to create excitement around reading, increase circulation, and strengthen their relationships with their communities. Since 1998, CLiF’s Rural Libraries Grant has served more than 85 percent of eligible towns in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Grant recipients include:
Roger Clark Memorial Library (Pittsfield, Vt.)
Cavendish Fletcher Community Library (Proctorsville, Vt.)
Enosburg Public Library (Enosburg, Vt.)
Haston Library (Franklin, Vt.)
Jericho Town Library (Jericho, Vt.)
Lanpher Memorial Library (Hyde Park, Vt.)
George H. Bixby Memorial Library (Francestown, N.H.)
Gilmanton Year-Round Library (Gilmanton Ironworks, N.H.)
Hill Library (Strafford, N.H.)
Madbury Public Library (Madbury, N.H.)
New Durham Public Library (New Durham, N.H.)
Orford Social Library (Orford, N.H.)
Each library will receive brand new children’s books ($2,000 value), in addition to new books for the local elementary school ($500 value), four storytelling presentations at the elementary school and childcare center(s), $250 to support a special initiative in the library, and new books for children to keep who attend the presentations. The grants kick off with storytelling and book giveaways in fall 2017 and conclude with a finale celebration in spring 2018.
New Durham Public Library Director Cathy Allen said, “This is the most exciting thing that has happened to our library, but it’s not just the monetary benefits, which are major. We envision a shift in the way residents view early literacy, heightened awareness regarding how important reading, writing, and self-expression are, and increased involvement by parents. In the long run, all of that will prove more valuable than the books themselves.”
Since 1998, CLiF has supported and inspired nearly 200,000 young readers and writers through five literacy program grants and has given away almost $5 million in new, high-quality children’s books. For more information visit www.clifonline.org.
