U.S. Jones among libraries receiving books from UA

TUSCALOOSA — The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies is awarding a record $15,400 in new, free books to elementary, middle and high school libraries in the Black Belt region of the state during February and March.

It does so via the SLIS Book Bonanza for the BlackBelt & Beyond Program.

School librarians in the Black Belt region were asked to apply for the book giveaway program from January to mid-February. From a record 33 applications, the committee chose seven school libraries to receive more than $2,000 each in new children’s and young adult books.

The judging of the applications was rigorous, as every school exemplified a significant need.

Beginning with this year’s program, committee members also selected a Book Bonanza Beyond winner. The Beyond winner is a low-income private school in the Black Belt Region of the state or a public school in an economically disadvantaged area of the state outside of the Black Belt.

The purpose is to give one 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.

Book Bonanza Black Belt Winners:

Booker T. Washington High, serving grades 9-12 (Macon County)

Bruce Craig Elementary, serving grades 3-5 (Dallas County)

Deborah Cannon Wolfe Elementary, serving grades K-6 (Macon County)

Goshen High, serving grades 7-12 (Pike County)

U.S. Jones Elementary, serving grades 3-5 (Marengo County)

York West End Junior High, serving grades PreK-8 (Sumter County)

Book Bonanza Beyond Winner:

Marion Academy, serving grades PreK-12 (Perry County)

Established in 2009 by Dr. Jamie Naidoo, a UA associate professor in the School of Library and Information Studies, 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 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.

For additional information about the program, contact Naidoo at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu or SLIS at 205-348-4610.