Topeka – Kansas First Lady Mary Brownback announced the winners of the 2012 Kansas Book Festival Grants during a news
conference Tuesday, March 20, at the Statehouse in Topeka.
“These grants are designed to further the Kansas Book Festival’s goals of promoting literacy and encouraging a life-long love of
reading,” First Lady Brownback said. “These grants will help preserve and improve local and school libraries across the state.”
The 16 libraries receiving a portion of the $13,000 in grants are located in Walton, Great Bend, Thayer, Bird City, Gypsum, Iola,
Westmoreland, El Dorado, Baileyville, Towanda, St Francis, Holton, Sedgwick, Atchison, Argonia and Stafford.
Technology Grants were awarded to: Central Elementary Library, Holton, for iPod touch devices and audiobooks; Lillian Tear Library, Sedgwick, for two computers; Atchison High Library, for 10 Kindles and audio books; Dixon Township Library,
Argonia, for a microfilm machine printer and dvd player; and Stafford School Library, for scanners.
Book Grants were awarded to: Riley Elementary Library, Great Bend; Thayer FRC City Library; Bird City Public Library; Iola Sr. High School Library; Westmoreland Elementary Library; Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center Library; Gypsum
Community Library; Lincoln Elementary Library, El Dorado; B&B Jr-Sr High Library, Baileyville; Towanda Elementary Library; St Francis Public Library.
The grants are funded through corporate sponsors of the 2012 Kansas Book Festival.
Governor Sam Brownback, Kansas Book Festival board members and representatives from the Gypsum Community Library, Lincoln Elementary Library and Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center joined the First Lady for the announcement.
“We all know about the important role literacy plays in the success of Kansas children,” Governor Brownback said. “When a child can read, it opens doors to his future; when a child can’t read, the doors of opportunity close around him.”
Mrs. Brownback said the grants will help fund a wide variety of local projects. Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center received a
book grant to update an aging biographical and fiction section of the library. The Stafford School Library will use its technology grant to purchase digital scanners to help preserve local historical documents.
The 2012 Kansas Book Festival will be held September 15th at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. All age groups are invited to attend the free, day-long event. To learn more, visit kansasbookfestival.com.