Libraries – Kansas Book Festival

Library Grant Applications are Invited

March 9, 2024/in Uncategorized /by Kansas Book Festival

Over the last 12 years, the Kansas Book Festival has accepted grant applications from needy Kansas public and school libraries, either for books or reading-related technology, and we are open again for applications, with a deadline of April 24, 2024. The Festival typically awards at least two grants of no more than $2000 for book acquisition. The Festival also awards at least one grant of no more than $2500 for the purchase of technology that is reading-related.

In 2024, our grant application period is from March 14 to April 24, and the necessary forms are available at the website for the Kansas Book Festival: https://www.kansasbookfestival.com/outr…/library-grants-1/ A digital copy of the application should be sent by email no later than the April 24 deadline, to our grant coordinator Beth Dobler (bethdobler9@gmail.com). This file can be in the form of a Word Document or PDF, but no faxed or mailed applications will be accepted.

NOTE: Special consideration is given to those with greater financial need, and a library cannot win a KBF grant in consecutive years. Requests may be funded only in part. Also, a progress report, including an accounting of funds, is expected by December 31 of the grant year.

Kansas Book Festival Grant Winners

June 7, 2022/in Uncategorized /by Kansas Book Festival

Every year for the last decade, the Kansas Book Festival has granted funding to Kansas libraries seeking to improve their book holdings or technology, distributing $10,000 in total. This year’s grants, just released, will assist five selected libraries, including Quinter High School Library in western Kansas, Circle Oil Hill Elementary School Library in southern Kansas, and Lebanon Community Library in north Kansas.

Needs vary. At Circle Oil Hill Elementary School, in El Dorado, the student population has become more diverse, and an $800 grant will help to provide books that appeal to kids from multiple cultures. Jonna Garbee, the library media specialist at Circle Oil Hill, says, “It is important for our students to learn about history and the many injustices suffered by people of color, but I am realizing that many of the books in our library focus only on suffering and not on everyday living. I want to provide books that show children of all races and cultures solving mysteries, having adventure, and laughing with friends.”

At Lebanon Kansas, where 28% of the patrons are over 60, there is a need for large-print books. An $800 grant will help Lebanon Community Library to provide 30 new large-print novels.

Some of the annual grants from the Kansas Book Festival go to technology instead of books. Quinter High School is committed to creating an innovative learning lab, where students can collaborate and create using 21st century tech tools. According to Valerie Brown-Kuchera, the K-12 Library Director at Quinter, this lab will include a podcast booth, a recording studio, 3D printing pens, a poster printer, and other devices that will inspire students to imagine and invent in contemporary ways. A $1000 grant from the Festival will help to purchase some of the required technology.

This year, two other libraries have been selected to receive funding from the Kansas Book Festival. Lincoln Junior Senior High School Library will receive $800 for the purchase of graphic novels and updated nonfiction, and Twin Valley Schools will receive $1600 for replacement of failing computers.

The Library Grant Program of the Kansas Book Festival, begun by former First Lady Mary Brownback when she brought the Festival to Topeka in 2011, is dependent on the generosity of donating individuals and agencies.

Kansas Book Festival Helps Area Libraries Improve Services

March 29, 2021/in Uncategorized /by Kansas Book Festival

TOPEKA, March 22, 2021–Every March, the Kansas Book Festival grants $10,000 to Kansas libraries seeking to improve their book holdings or technology. This year’s grants, just released, will assist 11 public or school libraries across the state, from Midland Trail Elementary Library near the heart of downtown Kansas City all the way to the Greeley County Library in far western Kansas (see photo of staff above).

The needs vary. In Peabody, 45 miles north of Wichita, a $750 grant will go toward books that help children from impoverished or dysfunctional homes to deal with related trauma. Rodger Charles, the Director of the Peabody Township Library, is collaborating with local school counselors and teachers so that they have timely access to resources that can help children who are at risk.

By contrast, Michelle Davis, the Librarian at Oak Grove Elementary Library in Kansas City, deals with a student population that is 29% bilingual, but she says, “Currently, our library has 19 bilingual books out of a total of 13,399 books, meaning 0.14% of our books are bilingual.” To improve the situation, Davis will use the $750 grant from Kansas Book Festival to purchase books that combine English with languages such as Burmese, Serbian, and Spanish. She is enthused to help struggling minority students grasp concepts and language skills more quickly.

Some of the annual Festival grants go to technology instead of books. As Darci Hildebrand, Director of the Wamego Public Library, explains, “The effects of the pandemic have pushed many into isolation in a way that once seemed unfathomable. It has become evident that technology is no longer just a luxury but a necessity.” Because of this growing need, Hildebrand plans to use the $800 grant from the Kansas Book Festival for purchasing stands, microphones, lighting equipment, and a portable Green Screen that can be used with a tablet or iPad to Zoom and livestream events for library patrons at home.

The Kansas Book Festival grant program, which was begun by former First Lady Mary Brownback when she brought the Festival to Topeka, has been maintained for a decade. To date, $95,000 have been given to Kansas libraries, which will be celebrated at the 10^th Anniversary of the Festival on September 18, when it takes place on the grounds of Washburn University in Topeka.

The full alphabetical list of 2021 library grantees is as follows: Elemendaro Township Library ($1000), Greeley County Library ($1200), Kiowa County Library ($750), La Crosse Middle and High School Library ($600), La Cygne Public Library ($1800), Midland Trail Elementary Library ($750), Oak Grove Elementary Library ($750), Peabody Township Library ($750), S.E. of Saline Elementary and Secondary Libraries ($950), Wamego Public Library ($800), and Wilson Schools Library ($650).

2016 Library Grants Announced

March 30, 2016/in News /by Kansas Book Festival

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

Featured Library: Eudora Public Library

June 4, 2015/0 Comments/in News /by Kansas Book Festival

(This is the second post in a series featuring some of the great libraries across our State.)

The Eudora Kansas Library is a gem in that small, Northeast Kansas town. And today, we feature their library!

Eudora Public Library
14 East 9^th Street Eudora, KS 66025
785-542-2496
eudorapl@sunflower.com

Libraries these days do such a great job of identifying needs in their communities and working to meet those needs. Eudora Public Library is no exception. This summer, they’re starting a new book sharing program for those in their community with health or transportation challenges. The applicants fill out a profile where they provide information like type of print or audio desired, genres, favorite authors and/or subjects, and anything they do not want in their books (sex, violence, language, etc). Some of the benefits to those in the program will be personalized visits, no overdue fines, and longer lending periods. What an awesome idea!

They also have a Food 4 Fines program twice a year. It was implemented last summer with great success. Last Fall, they ran the program during the holiday season as that is always a time when food pantries need additional assistance. They also coupled that specific F4F with a collection for military families where not only could patrons donate food and toiletries for those families but they were also able to write letters for those serving overseas. That particular box for the military went to an area highly classified where those in the military do not get a lot of home comforts. Through the F4F program, they’re able to provide their local food pantry with multiple truckloads of food while families donating receive $1 waived from their library account (up to $10) for each food item they bring.

No need to tiptoe in this library! The staff here have strived to create a homey environment where patrons won’t be hearing, “Shhhh!” around every corner. They have a small space, but they have worked hard to make it a great environment for all ages.

Be sure to check them out on social media and leave them some love:

https://www.facebook.com/EudoraPublicLibrary
https://www.pinterest.com/EudoraLibrary/
https://twitter.com/eudorapubliclib
http://eudora.mykansaslibrary.org/

A little library with a big heart and big dreams. Sounds like exactly the kind of library we would want to be a part of!

Featured Library: Independence Public Library

April 13, 2015/0 Comments/in News /by Kansas Book Festival

Leading up to our 5^th Annual Kansas Book Festival, we plan to feature some awesome libraries from across the state on our blog. Since this is National Library Week, there’s no better time to get this feature started!

To start things off, we’re headed down to Independence. They have some really fun things going on in their library for all ages. We’re particularly fond of their 2015 library advocacy campaign slogan, “Behind every great community is a great library.” We’d have to agree!

We’ll highlight a few of their fun programs below:

Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Festival
This program involves their entire community. There were more than 600 people at least year’s festival and the library was packed to the gills. In the month leading up to the festival, children can earn library bucks for the books they read and they can then redeem those bucks for gifts the night of the festival. The kids read more than 3,000 books to earn library bucks!

Their summer reading kick off is always a hit, as well. Last year was a Mad Science Fair theme where kids created things, conducted experiments, learned about scientific principals, enjoyed food and signed up for the summer reading program. City leaders and teachers joined in on the fun and helped at the different stations.

They’ve also just started their Big Read Grant and this year, if focuses on Edgar Allan Poe. It’s for adults, children and teens and even in English and Spanish! Some of the fun events will include an open mic night at the community college, a poetry workshop and performance by Indie Hip-Hop artist MC Lars, book and film discussions, trivia contests, art projects and even a Poe pub crawl.

There’s a lot going on in Independence. They’ve created fun spaces inside their library for different age groups, they host groups called “Sheep on a Stick” that do knitting, crocheting and other needlework for such as Purple Hats for Babies, Afghans for Soldiers and Chemo Caps for cancer patients.

And don’t forget about Trixie, the Library Cat. She was abandoned in front of the library in October 2009. Trixie even has her own Facebook page.

And finally, the fuel to all of these great programs is the staff. Congratulations to all of you working at the Independence Public Library. You are the inspiration we all need when looking for innovative ways to connect with those in our respective communities.