The Kansas Book Festival began in 2011 with the start of our one-day festival in September. Shortly following the festival, we opened up our first grant cycle and received a great response from libraries across the state that needed financial help. Our first grants were awarded in 2012 and since then, we’ve been able to give more than $58,000 to 42 school and 34 public libraries across the state. We want libraries to know that we are committed to helping them reach their goals and in turn fulfilling our mission of promoting literacy and a life-long love of learning to the people of Kansas.

Many of the libraries who applied for grants have materials budgets in the hundreds of dollars, not the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. We’ve received applications that detail how a particular library doesn’t have a single computer for patrons to use, libraries that have average copyright dates that go back to the 1960’s and libraries that are trying desperately to engage their reluctant readers and are even struggling to keep their doors open. That’s why it’s so important for foundations like the Kansas Book Festival and our corporate sponsors to help support these libraries in their efforts.

The libraries receiving grants for 2016 are as follows:

Technology
Blue Rapids Public Library
Liberal Memorial LIbrary
Moundridge Public Library
Peabody Township Library
Seaman High School Library
Weir Public Library

Books

Dixon Township Library
Eisenhower High School Library
Goodland Jr/Sr High School LIbrary
Lincoln Elementary Library (El Dorado)
Lincoln Elementary Library
Medicine Lodge Grade School Library
Morton County Library
Olpe High School Library
Paul B. Cooper Elementary (Wichita)
Washington Public Library
Wichita County Library