SALISBURY — On Monday Sept. 26, children at Salisbury Community School and New Leaf Montessori School were treated to storytelling events with Duncan McDougall, executive director of the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF). These kickoff events celebrate the Rural Libraries Grant awarded to the Salisbury Free Public Library, a small yet energetic library in the heart of Salisbury village.
Students in grades K-6 filled the gym at Salisbury Community School. Brand new children’s books covered five long tables; $2,000 worth of books to be added to the collection at the Salisbury Free Public Library and an additional $500 worth of books for the school library. Afterward, at the Montessori school, a circle of preschoolers listened to stories, sang songs and then chose new books to keep.
CLiF’s Rural Libraries Grant, open to New Hampshire and Vermont towns of 5,000 residents or less, enables rural public libraries to create excitement around reading, increase circulation and strengthen relationships within the communities they serve. A good relationship between Salisbury Community School and the Salisbury Free Public Library is growing even stronger as they support one another to develop a culture of literacy.
Marilyn McDowell, librarian, encouraged students to sign up for library cards and invited them to decorate the cards to their hearts content. The school is supporting this effort by laminating the kid-decorated cards. Both the library and school express deep gratitude to CLiF and the Brooke Foundation Fund who sponsored this generous grant.
In the Spring of 2017, students will be regaled with a second storytelling presentation by a children’s book author and/or illustrator selected from a roster of CLiF presenters. At this event, students will select a brand new book for their home library. The Salisbury Free Public Library will launch the Summer Reading Program.
CLiF is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Its mission is to nurture a love of reading and writing among low-income, at-risk and rural children in New Hampshire and Vermont. Over 17 years CLiF has inspired 180,000 young readers and writers through literacy program grants and has given away more than $4 million in new, high-quality children’s books. For more information visit www.clifonline.org or email [email protected].