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The Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) has awarded the 2019 Bookapalooza Program to three libraries: McNary Community Library of McNary, Arizona; Jaffrey Public Library of Jaffrey, New Hampshire; and Lawrence County Public Library of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

The award includes a variety of materials from books to DVDs and audiobooks. These materials have been received at the ALSC office from publishers for selection committees to evaluate for awards and notables consideration. To make room for the next year’s publications, Bookapalooza was created to infuse three collections with new materials for children from birth through age 14.

After the misfortune of burning down with no salvageable contents in June 2017, the McNary Community Library is now on the brink of reopening a 1500 square foot branch. With 48% of the McNary population being under the age of eighteen, there is a great need for the library to provide programming and materials that will entice their young population to be avid library users and help them acquire valuable school readiness skills. Through the Bookapalooza program, the McNary Community Library hopes to support programming, boost reading and science state test scores, and attract children from all over the McNary community and White Mountain Apache Reservation.

The Bookapalooza collection will allow the Jaffrey Public Library to provide current and appealing materials to local youth both housed in the library and in outreach locations throughout the Monadnock region, of which Jaffrey is the center. In addition to updating the library’s youth collection in a way far beyond budget capabilities, these new materials will allow them to expand summer Bookmobile service, and several outreach locations they serve such as HeadStart, local afterschool programs, and the Monadnock Shelter at Home program which serves transitioning families.

Lawrence County residents reside primarily in rural areas with a median household income of approximately $40k. The Lawrence County Public Library plans to distribute the Bookapalooza materials among nine Lawrence County public schools since the 5,117 students in their communities have greater access to their school libraries. The entire collection will be available to every school through an interlibrary loan program that uses high school Drivers’ Education students as couriers. The Bookapalooza program will be a way to help the schools improve their collections and promote a love of reading to these students.

“The committee was deeply moved by amount of need in many of the applications we received, and impressed by the many different ways applicants proposed to use and share the Bookapalooza materials in their communities,” said Ariana Hussain, Grant Administration Committee chair. “Our three recipients rose to the top because of the strength of their applications and the innovation, creativity, and extent of how they will use the materials to help them improve access and service to young readers.”

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is driven by more than 4,000 members dedicated to the support and enrichment of library service to children. Our members include youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty. ALSC supports its members in engaging communities to build healthy, successful, futures for all children. To learn more about ALSC and how to join, please visit: .