Frank Sarris Library receives $52k grant
Frank Sarris Public Library will be able to extend children’s story time beyond its walls, thanks to a grant from Grable Foundation. Starting this spring, librarians will bring story time to preschoolers at the Head Start daycare program in Canonsburg once a week.
Grable Foundation, which is based in Pittsburgh, awarded the library a $52,000 grant for its “Developing Young Explorers” initiative that focuses on educational programs for children.
Library director Peggy Tseng said the children at Head Start may never get the opportunity to attend story time at the library because many programs are offered during daycare hours. Though Head Start is the library’s top priority, Tseng said they will host an orientation in the spring for other local daycares that have an interest in their story time activities. The library has two professional children’s librarians on staff.
The grant also will allow the library to purchase $8,000 worth of new picture books for story time. Librarians will check out a handful of books each week and bring them to Head Start, where they will remain until the following week.
“They will rotate, so the classrooms will always have a fresh collection of picture books for the teachers to use during the week,” Tseng said.
In addition, the library will use $17,000 to purchase new books and supplies to create about 70 “theme boxes” that will be available for check-out. Tseng said, for example, a science-themed box may contain a telescope, or a math box may contain counting toys for younger children. Boxes would be tailored to the lessons children learn in preschool through fourth grade.
Tseng said many children in the region are homeschooled, and parents often come into the library and request educational tools “beyond the books” that the library does not have. As a result, librarians are left scrambling to find something suitable.
Remaining funds from the grant will go toward supplies and salaries. The grant money will be used throughout 2015 and 2016.