2014 Summer Reading Grant Applications now available

CHICAGO – The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is offering libraries the chance to apply for funds that will aid in the implementation of the library’s overall summer reading program.

Courtesy of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, YALSA will be giving out two types of grants. The Summer Reading Teen Intern Grant will award $1,000 to each of 20 libraries for the purpose of hiring summer teen interns to assist with summer reading activities. The Summer Reading Resources Grant, will award $1,000 to each of 20 libraries in need with the purpose of helping them purchase resources to bolster their teen summer reading program.

This is the third year that funds are available for a teen intern grant. Claire Ritz Matthews, a previous grantee, noted that “our library had never used teens to facilitate the summer reading program, but the interns were so exceptional they won over even the more resistant staff members.”

To learn more about how the grants support summer reading programs, view a brief video at ow.ly/oD5YU. Interested applicants may apply now through Jan. 1, 2014 at http://summerreading.ning.com/. Recipients of the grants will be announced the week of Feb. 17, 2014.

To be eligible for the grant, a library must be in compliance with the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights in regards to material selection, and be within 20 miles of a Dollar General store. To find out if there is a Dollar General store within 20 miles of your library, use the Dollar General store locator. This grant opportunity is a member benefit for YALSA members; therefore, the applicant must be a personal member of YALSA. All criteria must be met in order to be considered for the grant.

For years, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has provided Youth Literacy Grants to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations in hopes to provide assistance in implementing and expanding literacy programs for youth. For more information about Dollar General and its Youth Literacy Grants, visit www.dollargeneral.com.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.