Libri Foundation Helps Rural Libraries
Oregon–based nonprofit organization now accepting applications for children's books
By Hal Stucker -- School Library Journal, 3/1/2005
In an era of shrinking budgets, it shouldn't be surprising that many librarians in rural America don't have enough cash to build their collections. But help is on the way—the nonprofit Libri Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2005 Books for Children program.
Founded in 1990 by former librarian Barbara McKillip, Libri donates new hardcover children's books to small, rural public libraries throughout the country. School libraries that also serve as community libraries and have some extended weekday and summer hours are also eligible. "In some cases, schools have used our grants as leverage to help get funding to keep their doors open longer," McKillip says.
Oregon–based Libri doesn't hand out cash; its grants are in the form of free board and picture books for kids in grade six and under. The foundation matches money raised by a library on a 2-to-1 basis up to $350, so the maximum a library can receive is $1,050 worth of titles, the equivalent of about 70 to 100 books. Libraries get to choose from a well-researched list of 700 titles, including books such as the current Caldecott Honor Book Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Hyperion) by Mo Willems and Farm Flu (Albert Whitman, 2001) by Teresa Bateman.
How do you know if your library qualifies? The foundation defines rural as at least 30 miles from a city with a population of more than 40,000. County libraries should have a total operating budget of less than $350,000 and serve a population of less than 15,000, and small town libraries must have a budget of less than $150,000 and serve less than 10,000. Libri has awarded grants to libraries in all but two states—Rhode Island and Delaware—and a majority of books go to places such as Iowa, Kansas, Alaska, and Nebraska. Tribal libraries in New Mexico, Arizona, and Montana have also been recipients.
Libri operates on a $250,000 annual budget, 75 percent of which comes from donations. In 2004, the organization spent close to $200,000 on books, with the remaining amount going toward operating costs. McKillip expects to dole out 300 grants in 2005, about the same as last year. To date, the foundation has donated over $2.3 million worth of new children's books to more than 2,000 libraries.
Sherri Contreras, a librarian at the Ukiah (OR) School and Public Library, has received four grants over the years, making it possible to buy about 400 books for her children's collection. "Small libraries are important for rural communities, but they are often shortchanged on funding," McKillip says.
