DOE Unveils School Library Grants

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has announced $18.3 million in grants to enhance libraries in 59 low-income school districts across the country. The funds, which come from the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program
"Reading is the foundation for all other learning, and the key ingredient for keeping students engaged and focused," Spellings says. "These grants will help school libraries keep up with the rising demands of our information age, so that they, in turn, can help students develop the critical thinking and information retrieval skills needed for success in today's world.", will be used to help students boost their reading achievement by increasing their access to up-to-date and technologically advanced school library materials.

The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program is designed to help schools meet the reading and other literacy challenges of their students. Funds can be used to acquire books and other library materials; improve schools' technology; facilitate Internet links and other resource-sharing networks; provide professional development for library personnel; enhance collaboration among media specialists, teachers, and administrators; and expand library hours. Only school districts that have at least 20 percent of its students from families below the poverty line are eligible to apply.

For a list of grant recipients, click here.