The University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies will award over $12,000 in brand new children’s and young adult books to school libraries in the Black Belt region of the state as well as to one school library in an economically deprived area of Alabama outside the Black Belt through the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt and Beyond Program.
School librarians in the Black Belt counties of Alabama and other economically disadvantaged areas of the state are encouraged to apply for books awarded by Dr. Jamie C. Naidoo, professor at The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies.
School librarians can download and complete the application sheet and email it to jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu with “Book Bonanza” in the subject line or fax the application to (205) 348-3746. Applications are due no later than midnight on February 23, 2018. Applications are located on the program website, here.
At least six of the winning schools will be selected by February 28, 2018. Each winning school library will receive over $1800 worth of free children’s and/or young adult books. Once notified, winning school librarians will have until March 30, 2018 to claim their free books from the School of Library and Information Studies at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Books must be picked up in Tuscaloosa.
Initiated in 2009, the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt is an annual program that provides free books to school libraries in the Black Belt region each academic year. In 2017, the program donated a record $22,641 in new books to elementary, middle, and high school libraries in Alabama. If you need additional information about the program, please visit the program website or contact Dr. Jamie C. Naidoo at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu.
