The Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has awarded the 2018 Bookapalooza Program to three libraries, including the Daviess County Library, Gallatin. The other two libraries were Chilton/Clanton Public Library, Clanton, AL.; and Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach, FL.
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ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. ALSC consists of a network of more than 4,000 children and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty.
Each library will receive around 600 pounds of materials, including books, DVDs and audio books. The award team shipped a total of 40 large boxes to the Daviess County Library which have arrived by the truckload at the library over the last two weeks. These are materials that were received at the ALSC office from publishers for selection committees to evaluate for awards and notables consideration. They are all 2017 copyright, brand new and in mint condition.
To make room for the next year’s publications, the Bookapalooza award was created to infuse three library communities each year with new materials for children from birth through age 14.
The Daviess County Library will catalog some of the materials for adding to the regular collection and other materials will be distributed directly to children all around Daviess County.
As written in the grant proposal, the library plans to work with local school and community partners, such as the Daviess County Health Department, to put the books directly into the hands of area children. Library staff are in awe of the quality and variety of materials received so far.
“We are a rural county and transportation, along with getting a library card, can actually be a large barrier for many young children and families, even though the library’s services are free,” said Library Director Allison Spidle. “While we will end up cataloging and keeping approximately 500 of the total 2,000 or so Bookapalooza materials, the rest will be put on our free lending reading racks around the county and distributed directly to children throughout the summer via book give-away events.”
Director Spidle added that the library has already coordinated with the mayors of Coffey and Jameson, as well as the Gallatin Summer School Program, to arrange for dates and times for book give-away events in May and June. The county jail has been contacted about putting a take-a-book box there for children visiting parents.
“We’re continuing to brainstorm though, as we just keep getting more books!” Director Spidle said.”
Chief Cataloger Amy McMahon added, “Not everyone can make it to the library to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Parents work, access to a vehicle may be nonexistent, money for gas is tight, and distractions are everywhere. Keeping kids progressing and not regressing in their reading over the summer months is one of our key aims each year. The grant was written to eliminate barriers and put quality, new books directly into the hands of local children. As a staff we are loving going through the boxes. It is like Christmas over and over again each time we see the post office truck pull up.”