http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/readingrou_5259.mp3
Literacy group Reading Roundup has awarded 18 grants totaling $12,000 to librarians in Springfield Public Schools.
The grants are designed to fund special needs projects for school libraries. Normal funding for public school libraries is limited in its use, so librarians need extra financial support to put special reading and learning initiatives into place. 52 proposals were submitted by librarians from the Springfield Public School District. The largest grant awarded was for $1,193 to support the “Early Bird Gets the Bookworm” project which encourages kids to discuss books while learning about technology.
David Harrison, children’s author and chairman of the Reading Roundup committee, believes the efforts of the organization have had significant effects on the public school libraries and long term advantages for students.
“The state of the libraries in Springfield’s public schools has maybe never been better. Research has shown that students who attend schools with well stocked libraries of current, interesting books learn better, so we’re all very proud of that,” said Harrison.
The grant committee still has a runner-up list of 11 more grant proposals totaling $9,000 which they hope to award. Donations to Reading Roundup will continue to be accepted until the end of September. Checks for donations can be made out to Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, earmarked for Reading Roundup, and mailed to the Foundation office at Kraft Administrative Center, 940 N. Jefferson, Springfield 65802. For KSMU News, I’m Adam Murphy.