Southeast Branch Library to Enhance Beginning Readers Collection with $2,500 Grant
By Arlington Public Library
Posted on May 16, 2017, May 16, 2017

Beginning Readers

The Texas Book Festival has awarded the Southeast Branch Library a $2,500 collections enhancement grant that will be used to provide Beginning Readers for youth.

These books help children transition from picture books, which rely on illustrations to tell a story, to chapter books, which rely primarily on text. Beginning Readers serve as a bridge, by providing both illustrations and text.

"We are extremely grateful to receive this grant," said Yoko Matsumoto, Director of Libraries. "The funds will enable us to enhance the children's book collection, which will benefit the children within our community."

Every year public libraries across Texas apply to the Texas Book Festival to receive grant funds. The grants are intended to update and increase book collections. This year, 44 libraries received more than $100,000 in grant support. Since its founding, the Festival has contributed more than $2.9 million in grants to more than 600 Texas public libraries.

"Our public libraries provide invaluable services that advance the causes of literacy education and life-long learning. We are committed to supporting the important work of Texas public libraries," said Lois Kim, Executive Director of the Texas Book Festival. "We are proud that we can continue to help libraries meet the needs of their communities."

The Texas Book Festival raises money for the grants from individual, corporate, and foundation sponsorships, the annual Gala, and from book sales at the annual Festival. The 2017 Texas Book Festival is scheduled for November 4 and 5.

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