Literacy foundation supports rural libraries, accepts more grant applications through Aug. 29

August 12, 2022  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

The Children’s Literacy Foundation recently announced grants to Vermont and New Hampshire rural libraries, and through Aug. 29, it is accepting applications from children’s organizations interested in hosting literacy presentations.

The latest applications for its fall At-Risk Grant Program which provides activities and book giveaways for children up to age 12 in Vermont and New Hampshire who are at risk of having low literacy skills. 

Eligible organizations for the fall grants include early childhood education centers, afterschool programs, parent-child programs, shelters, community centers and English Language Learner classrooms.

Each event features an interactive storytelling presentation by a CLiF representative and the opportunity for each child to take home two new books to keep. The program also supplies the grant recipient with an onsite library for children to use and an optional parent seminar to support caregivers who may not have strong literacy skills or may not be fluent English speakers.

Program Manager Jana Brown said the events are even more important now after the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted learning for many children. “Early literacy skills are one of the strongest indicators of a child’s future success, and CLiF’s goal is to make reading and writing fun and engaging,” Brown said.  More information and the grant application are online at clifonline.org/literacy-programs/at-risk-children/. 

Also this week, the Waterbury-based nonprofit CLiF announced grants to 12 rural public libraries in Vermont and New Hampshire. Each library will receive two storytelling presentations from the organization’s staff along with new books for the public library, new books for the local elementary school library, a mini-grant to support children’s library programming, and some new books for children to take home. 

The library grant program supports libraries in towns with 5,000 people or fewer with the goals of helping small-town libraries create excitement around reading and writing, increase circulation and strengthen community ties.

“Applications from this group of libraries showed how public libraries are managing the lingering implications of COVID shut downs and finding opportunities to help the students and families in their communities to find comfort, resources, and connection in the library,” CLiF Program Director Meredith Scott said. 

The Vermont libraries that were chosen are Bethel Public Library, Coventry Village School, Leach Public Library in Irasburg, Whitingham Free Public Library in Jacksonville, Salisbury Free Public Library and Waterville Town Library. 

Libraries chosen in New Hampshire are in Antrim, Deerfield, Hampton Falls, Pittsfield, Strafford and Thornton, according to the CLiF announcement. 

More information online at clifonline.org.