Hi Linda, We did this grant a few years ago. I don't remember offhand how much money we raised to be matched, but the selection of books they offered was wonderful. Definitely a great opportunity. Carolyn Paradise Casco Public Library PO Box 420, Casco, ME 04015 207-627-4541 [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: The Libri Foundation [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 3:58 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Grant Opportunity for Maine Rural Public Libraries Dear Ms. Lord, Once again, The Libri Foundation has 8 or 9 grants specifically for rural public libraries in Maine. However, unlike years in the past, I haven't received any applications from Maine libraries. The announced deadline for spring grants is March 15th. For Maine libraries, I am extending the deadline to April 20th. Your help in publicizing these grants would be greatly appreciated. At the end of the press release, I've attached a list of all the Maine libraries that have received Books for Children grants during the past 12 years. This is just FYI and is not part of the press release. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Barbara J. McKillip ------------------------ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2003 The Libri Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2003 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grants. This year the Foundation has a number of grants specifically for rural libraries in Maine and would like to encourage them to apply. The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children's books to small, rural public libraries throughout the United States. Since October 1990, the Foundation has donated over $1,840,000 worth of new children's books to more than 1,600 libraries in 48 states. In order to encourage and reward local support of libraries, The Libri Foundation will match any amount of money raised by a library's local sponsor(s) from $50 to $350 on a 2-to-1 ratio. Thus, a library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new, quality, hardcover children's books. After a library receives a grant, local sponsors (such as formal or informal Friends groups, civic or social organizations, local businesses, etc.) have four months, or longer if necessary, to raise their matching funds. The librarian of each participating library selects the books her library will receive from a booklist provided by the Foundation. The 700-plus fiction and nonfiction titles on the booklist reflect the very best of children's literature published in the last three years. These titles, which are for children ages 12 and under, are award-winners or have received starred reviews in library, literary, and education journals. The booklist also includes a selection of classic children's titles. Libraries are qualified on an individual basis. In general, libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000), be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children's department. Please note: Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000. Town libraries with total operating budgets over $125,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets over $250,000 are rarely given grants. Applications are accepted from independent libraries as well as libraries which are part of a county, regional, or cooperative library system. A school library may apply only if it also serves as the public library (i.e. it is open to the general public and has summer hours). A branch library may apply if the community it is in meets the definition of rural. If the branch library receives its funding from its parent institution, then the parent institution's total operating budget, not just the branch library's total operating budget, must meet the budget guidelines. Previous BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipients are eligible to apply for a second grant three years after the receipt of their first grant. Libraries that do not fulfill all the grant requirements, including the final report, are not eligible for a second grant. Application (postmark) deadlines: March 15th, (April 20th - Maine libraries only), July 15th, and November 15th. Award dates are the end of April, August, and December. Libraries are encouraged to apply for the earliest deadline possible. To have an application form emailed to you, please contact Barbara J. McKillip at [log in to unmask], with the subject line: Grant Application. For more information about the Foundation, please check our website at www.librifoundation.org. Or, contact Ms. Barbara J. McKillip, President, The Libri Foundation, PO Box 10246, Eugene, OR 97440. 541-747-9655 (voice); 541-747-4348 (fax). Normal office hours are: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Time. -30- __________________________________ Maine Books for Children Grant Recipients Amy Stone Cole Library Media Center Berwick Public Library Bonney Memorial Library Bridge Academy Public Library Brooksville Free Public Library Canaan Public Library Casco Public Library Chase Emerson Memorial Library Community Library Davis Memorial Library Denmark Public Library Indian Township School Library Ivan O. Davis - Liberty Library Jackson Memorial Library John B. Curtis Free Public Library Kezar Falls Circulating Library Limerick Public Library Lincoln Memorial Library Livermore Public Library Lubec Memorial Library Mechanic Falls Public Library Mexico Free Public Library Milbridge Public Library Monhegan Memorial Library New Portland Community Library North Bridgton Public Library Orr's Island Public Library Palermo Community Library Parsonsfield Public Library Peavey Memorial Library Phillips Public Library Rangeley Public Library Raymond Village Library Sangerville Public Library Searsmont Town Library Shaw Public Library Soldiers Memorial Library Spaulding Memorial Library Vose Library Waterboro Public Library Waterford Library Association Whitman Memorial Library Whitneyville Library -------------------- Barbara J. McKillip President The Libri Foundation PO Box 10246 Eugene, OR 97440 541-747-9655 (phone); 541-747-4348 (fax) [log in to unmask] (email) www.librifoundation.org