Autobots, roll out…. and sign up for a library card today! Did you know that September is Library Card Sign-up Month? This year, The American Library Association has partnered with companies such as Skybound, Hasbro, and Image Comics to create Transformers themed supplies and graphics such as bookmarks, library cards, and posters in English and Spanish which feature art by Marz Jr.
Be sure to check out the ALA Toolkit for even more ideas to help your library and community celebrate and promote library card sign up and use via social media graphics and templates.
Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or just a book lover, your local library holds an arsenal of resources. By signing up for and using your library card, borrowers can upgrade their reading skills, expand their knowledge, and connect with other readers. ALA’s Transformers themed supplies are an effective way for libraries to encourage those in the community to sign up for a library card and become more involved in their local library.
Update: The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program grant application will be released soon. In order to apply, applicants will need to have a Memorandum of Agreement with the Dollywood Foundation for participation as a Local Program Partner in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library by the application deadline.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a community-based program mailing free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth until their 5th birthday, no matter their income. Local Program Partners enroll children within their selected community and pay, on average, $2.20 per child/per month towards wholesale book and mailing costs.
To encourage participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, The New York State Legislature has appropriated $500,000 to be awarded through a competitive grant program.
Funds will be available to libraries, library systems, non-profits, school districts, and BOCES in New York State. Individual grants will be limited to a maximum of $49,000 to pay up to 50% of a Local Program Partner’s costs from the Imagination Library.
Please visit the Imagination Library website for more information on the book gifting program and the process to become a Local Program Partner. We encourage any organization interested in becoming a Partner to begin the process prior to the grant application announcement.
The grant application announcement and guidelines will be posted to the Division of Library Development website once released. You may also sign up for the NYLINE list, where the announcement will be shared by email.
Questions may be sent to NYSLImaginationLibrary@nysed.gov.