December 19, 2011

State Library Board awards $24,500 in Federal LSTA Grants to Libraries for Choose to Read Ohio Projects

The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce that the State Library Board recently awarded $24,500 in special Choose to Read Ohio LSTA grants to six libraries. Choose to Read Ohio, a project of the State Library of Ohio and its partner Ohioana, is a statewide initiative to encourage the reading of Ohio literature together across Ohio communities. The libraries receiving grants include Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dublin City Schools, Hillsboro City Schools, Maysville Local School District, Pemberville Public Library, and Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library. "Choose to Read Ohio encourages libraries, schools, families, and others to build a community of readers and an appreciation of Ohio authors and literature," explain Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Library Consultant responsible for the Choose to Read Ohio project at the State Library of Ohio. 

The Choose to Read Ohio 2011-2012 booklists feature 20  titles by Ohio authors: five each for young children, tweens, young adults, and adults. Ohioans of all ages are encouraged to choose a book and to gather to discuss these books at public libraries, schools, community centers, bookstores, or other settings. The State Library developed Choose to Read Ohio toolkits with author information, discussion questions, and other resources to support communities reading and discussing the books together.

"Just a book and a couple readers is all it takes to participate in Choose to Read Ohio, but with the creativity of librarians and a bit of seed money from LSTA, many ambitious and high-impact projects have come out of this program, with positive outcomes for literacy, library use, and community collaborations," said Ingraham Dwyer. Plans this round of LSTA funds include:

	Columbus Metropolitan Library Title Selected: Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep by Will Hillenbrand Activities:  This is a collaborative grant between Columbus Metropolitan Library, the A. Sophie Rogers Laboratory School at Schoenbaum Family Center (SFC) at Weinland Park and the Weinland Park Elementary School. The selected title will be designated the SFC Book Club Choice for April 2012.  Storytimes will be presented in classrooms at SFC and Weinland Park Elementary. Families will receive a copy of the book with an activity card with ways to share the book and other books with their children.  An author visit open to the community will conclude the month’s activities. Grant award: $3,178.
	Dublin City Schools Title Selected: B is for Buckeye by Marcia Schonberg Activities:  This is a collaborative project between the fourth grades at Daniel Wright Elementary School and the Dublin Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Fourth grade teachers will use the CTRO toolkits to integrate the book with social studies lessons. This work was selected because many students at the school are new to the state and the country. The author will visit the school and conduct an evening program at the Dublin Branch Library. Branch staff will use the event as a means to introduce families new to the community and country to all library programs and services. Grant award: $2,220
	Hillsboro City Schools Title Selected:  Two Girls From Gettysburg by Lisa Klein Activities:  This is a collaborative project between the Hillsboro City Schools and the Highland County District Library.  Ninth grade English classes will read the book and teachers will use the CTRO toolkit for discussion.  An author visit in May will culminate this phase of the project. To encourage summer learning and reading, all students will receive a reading list which focuses on the theme of Ohio in the Civil War. For those students who participate in the voluntary summer reading program they will have the opportunity to visit local Underground Railroad sites or attend an author e-visit in September. Grant award: $9,937
	Maysville Local School District Title Selected:  Otis by Loren Long Activities:  Library media specialists and literacy staff will team up to use Loren Long’s books to promote positive character traits. Books will be read aloud and discussed and will be followed by community involvement activities. This will include collecting mittens and hats for the Eastside Community Center’s homeless drive, visiting local nursing homes, and collecting food for “Helping Hands” baskets. The project will culminate with a visit, book signing and family celebration with Loren Long. Grant award: $6,169
	Pemberville Public Library Title Selected: Firegirl by Tony Abbott Activities:  The Pemberville Public Library plans to use this CTRO title to establish a tween reading group at the library.  This is a collaborative project with Eastwood Schools. Book discussions will take place at both the school and the public library and the project will culminate with an author visit at both locations. After the author visit, the library plans to use interested students to help organize two events during Summer Reading Program with the hope that the tween reading group will continue with monthly book discussion meetings into the future. Grant award: $1,924
	Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library Title Selected: Building a Family in a Falling Down House by David Giffels Activities:  The library chose this title because of the number of older homes in the area and the interest in home repair and restoration by library patrons. Book discussions will take place at the Willoughby Senior Center, Breckenridge Assisted Living, Eastlake Women’s Club, and Willowick Public Library.  Library staff will encourage local Mayors and City Council Members to participate in a book discussion group and will feature the book as part of the Adult Summer Reading Program. An author visit will be the final event for Adult Summer Reading. Grant award: $1,122