It can be a constant struggle for a small town library to provide important services, update technology equipment and purchase books with the small operating budget available. New books are much-needed for the busy Children's Department at Wood Place Public Library, California, but funding is limited for acquisitions.
Beth Jungmeyer, who is a member of two Moniteau County Retired Teachers groups, is also a grant writer for the City of California.
She contacted Wood Place Public Library Director, Connie Walker about applying for the Libri Foundation Grant. The Libri Foundation, established in 1989, has the sole purpose of helping rural libraries acquire books for their children's collections. The Foundation matches on a two-to-one ratio. Therefore a library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new, quality, hardcover children's books if a local sponsor can contribute $350. Jungmeyer thought the retired teachers might be interested in donating the matching funds, so an appeal went out to the two groups.
"The opportunity to promote literacy and help the library excited the groups," Jungmeyer said, "and so we were actually able to come up with enough money not only to do the matching grant but to donate $350 to the music program at Latham."
For more of this story check out the July 20 issue of the California Democrat.