During March 2017, The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) will award a record $22,641 in new, free books to elementary, middle, and high school libraries in Alabama via the SLIS Book Bonanza for the BlackBelt & Beyond Program.
School librarians in the Black Belt region were asked to apply for the book give-away program from January to mid-February. We received applications from 24 highly deserving schools. The committee chose 6 school libraries in the Black Belt Region of the state to receive over $2000 each in brand new children’s and young adult books. The judging of the applications was rigorous, as every school exemplified a significant need.
We have selected 2 Book Bonanza Beyond winners. The Beyond winner is a low-income private school in the Black Belt Region of the state, or a public school demonstrating significant economic need in an area of the state outside of the Black Belt. The purpose of this award is to give an equally deserving school library, that is not eligible to be a Book Bonanza for the Black Belt Winner, a one-time opportunity to address literacy needs in their school community.
We hope that you will join us in congratulating the following winning school libraries:
Book Bonanza Black Belt Winners:
Gordo High School, serving grades 7-12 (Pickens County), Librarian Heather Perrigin
Greensboro Middle School, serving grades 6-8 (Hale County), Librarian Elaine Pugh
Payne Elementary School, serving graded K-5 (Dallas County), Librarian Julie Johnson
Sidney Lanier High School, serving grades 9-12 (Montgomery County), Librarian Yolanda Huntley
Southside Primary School, serving grades K-2 (Dallas County), Librarian Monica Gayle
Valley Grande Elementary School, serving grades PreK-6 (Dallas County), Librarian Brenda Powell
Book Bonanza Beyond Winner:
Central Elementary School, serving grades K-5 (Tuscaloosa County), Librarian Stephanie Frost
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, serving grades PreK-5 (Tuscaloosa County), Librarian Sandra Perteet-Plenty
Established in 2009 by Dr. Jamie Naidoo, the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt (& Beyond) is an annual program that provides free new books to school libraries in the Black Belt region of state. Schools in the Black Belt region are encouraged to apply again in January next year for a chance to receive free books for their school libraries during the next SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt & Beyond Program. Low-income private schools in the Black Belt Region or schools in economically disadvantaged areas of the state outside the Black Belt are encouraged to apply next year to be a Beyond Winner. If you need additional information about the program, please contact Dr. Jamie C. Naidoo at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu or SLIS at 205-348-4610. Information is also available on the program website: http://blackbeltbookbonanza.weebly.com.