2023 SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt (and Beyond) Book Give Away Program is Accepting Applications from School Libraries
- January 19th, 2023
- in SLIS News
In March 2023, the School of Library and Information Studies @ The University of Alabama will award brand new children’s and teen books to at least four public school libraries in the Black Belt region of the state and two school libraries in an economically deprived area of Alabama outside of the Black Belt Region via the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt (and Beyond) program.
School Librarians in the Black Belt counties of Alabama and other economically disadvantaged areas of the state are encouraged to apply for free books that will be awarded by Dr. Jamie C. Naidoo, Professor and Interim Director at The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies.
Interested school librarians can download and complete the application sheet and email it to SLIS children’s literacy graduate assistant Kim Rogers at childliteracyga@gmail.com with “Book Bonanza” in the subject line or fax it to (205) 348-3746. Applications should be received no later than midnight on February 28, 2023. Applications are available on the program website: http://blackbeltbookbonanza.weebly.com/ . Note there is a separate application for public schools in the Black Belt Region of the state and another application for low-income schools outside the Black Belt region of the state (as well as private schools in the Black Belt region).
On March 21st, a total of 6 winning school libraries will be selected. Each winning school library will receive over $3000 worth of free NEW children’s and/or young adult books. Once notified, school librarians will coordinate with representatives from the School of Library and Information Studies at The University of Alabama to acquire their books.
Launched in 2009 by Dr. Jamie Naidoo, the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt is an annual program that provides free books to school libraries in the Black Belt region each academic year. In March 2022, the program donated over $38,300 in new books to elementary, middle, and high school libraries in Alabama. If you need additional information about the program, please visit the program website http://blackbeltbookbonanza.weebly.com/