NEH, ALA announce 7th annual “We the People” Bookshelf grant opportunity

Contact: Angela Thullen
Program Officer, Communications
312-280-5286
athullen@ala.org

NEWS
For Immediate Release
September 8, 2009

Apply through Jan. 29, 2010 for a collection of 17 titles on the theme “A More Perfect Union”

CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Programs Office is partnering with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the seventh We the People Bookshelf project.  Part of the NEH’s We the People program, the Bookshelf encourages young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history.

This year’s theme, “A More Perfect Union,” invites reflection on the idea of the United States as a “union,” a “One” as well as a “Many,” and will complement library programs observing the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. To stimulate programming, the Bookshelf features a DVD edition of “The Civil War ,”the award-winning documentary by Ken Burns, including the rights to show the series to public audiences. Additional bonus materials provided are the companion book to the series and “Declaring Independence: The Origin and Influence of America’s Founding Document,” edited by Christian Y. Dupont. Â

Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply online from Sept. 8, 2009, through Jan. 29, 2010, at http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf .  In spring 2010, NEH and ALA will select 4,000 libraries to receive the 17 books for young readers, as well as bonus materials for readers of all ages, and the option to receive three titles in Spanish translation. Libraries selected will be required to use the Bookshelf selections in programs for young readers in their communities.

The Bookshelf grants are part of the NEH’s We the People program, which aims to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture through libraries, schools, colleges, universities and cultural institutions.  Since 2003, NEH has awarded 13,000 We the People Bookshelves to public and school libraries.

The We the People Bookshelf on “A More Perfect Union” will feature the following books, selected by NEH in consultation with members of ALA and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA:

  • Kindergarten to Grade 3: “Tico and the Golden Wings”by Leo Lionni; “When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson” by Pam Muñoz Ryan; “A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution”by Betsy and Giulio Maestro
  • Grades 4 to 6: “César: ¡ Sí, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can!”by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand; “Darby” by Jonathon Scott Fuqua; “Eagle Song” by Joseph Bruchac; “The Great Little Madison” by Jean Fritz
  • Grades 7 to 8: “Chains” by Laurie Halse Anderson; “Hitch” by Jeanette Ingold; “Lincoln Shot: A President’s Life Remembered” by Barry Denenberg; “Warriors Don’t Cry” by Melba Beals
  • Grades 9 to 12: “American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic”by Joseph Ellis; “Carver: A Life in Poems” by Marilyn Nelson; “Killer Angels”by Michael Shaara; “Lincoln in His Own Words” by Milton Melzer; “Twelve Angry Men”by Reginald Rose; “The Souls of Black Folk” by W. E. B. DuBois
  • Bonus: “The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns”(includes rights to show the series to public audiences);“The Civil War: An Illustrated History”by Geoffrey Ward, Ric Burns, Ken Burns; “Declaring Independence: The Origin and Influence of America’s Founding Document” edited by Christian Y. Dupont

Established in 1992, the ALA Public Programs Office has an exemplary track record of developing library programming initiatives, including the acclaimed reading and discussion series "Let's Talk About It," film discussion programs on humanities themes, traveling exhibitions, LIVE! @ your library® and other programs. Recently, it has established the Cultural Communities Fund, an endowment created to help all types of libraries across the country bring communities together through cultural programming ( www.ala.org/ccf ).  For more information about the ALA Public Programs Office, visit www.ala.org/publicprograms .

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports learning in history, literature, philosophy and other areas of the humanities. NEH grants enrich classroom learning, create and preserve knowledge and bring ideas to life through public television, radio, new technologies, exhibitions and programs in libraries, museums and other community places. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at www.neh.gov .