McCormick Tribune Foundation doubles number of We The People Bookshelf grants on “Becoming American”
Contact: Lainie Castle
Program Officer, Communications
312-280-5055
lcastle@ala.org
For Immediate Release
November 21, 2005
McCormick Tribune Foundation doubles number of We The People Bookshelf grants on “Becoming American”
2,000 libraries will be selected to receive a Bookshelf
CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the third
We the People Bookshelf project. Part of the NEH's
We the People initiative, the Bookshelf is a program created to encourage young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history.
Since 2003, ALA and NEH have awarded
We the People Bookshelves to 2,000 public and school libraries in all 50 states and Guam.
This year's theme is “Becoming American.” During the NEH and ALA launch of the “Becoming American” theme in September, the McCormick Tribune Foundation agreed to provide additional support to double the number of available Bookshelves from 1,000 to 2,000. Applications will be accepted online through January 17, 2006. To access guidelines and the application, visit
www.ala.org/wethepeople.
The grant initiative will award sets of 15 classic books for young readers that address the theme of “Becoming American” to a total of 2,000 libraries across the country. School (K-12) and public libraries are eligible to apply. Libraries selected to receive the grants are required to use the Bookshelf selections in programs for young readers in their communities. For complete information, visit
www.ala.org/wethepeople or
www.humanities.gov. Applications are being accepted online from September 6, 2005 through January 17, 2006. Unlike past
We the People Bookshelves, there will be no second deadline for “Becoming American.”
The Bookshelf grants are part of the NEH's
We the People initiative, which aims to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture through libraries, schools, colleges, universities, and cultural institutions.
NEH plans to issue a Bookshelf list each year on themes related to American ideas and ideals. The 2005-2006 theme is “Becoming American” and features books, selected by the NEH, in consultation with members of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions of ALA. For a list of the “Becoming American” Bookshelf titles, visit
www.ala.org/wethepeople.
Questions about the
We the People Bookshelf should be directed to the ALA Public Programs Office at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5045 or
publicprograms@ala.org, or to the NEH at (202) 606-8337 or
wethepeople@neh.gov. Hearing-impaired applicants can contact NEH via TDD at 1-866-372-2930.
The ALA Public Programs Office fosters cultural programming by libraries of all types. Established in 1990, the office helps thousands of libraries nationwide develop and host programs that encourage dialogue among community members and establish libraries as cultural centers in their communities.
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.
The McCormick Tribune Foundation is a charitable grant making organization that supports work in journalism, communities, citizenship, and education. For more information, visit
www.rrmtf.org.
