SLIS Breaks Record for Book Bonanza

Mar 1, 2018


During March 2018,  The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) will award a record $25,752 in new, free books to elementary, middle, and high school libraries in Alabama via the SLIS Book Bonanza for the BlackBelt & Beyond Program.

School librarians in the Black Belt region were asked to apply for the book give-away program from January to mid-February. We received applications from 62 highly deserving schools. The committee chose 8 school libraries in the Black Belt Region of the state to receive on average $2300 each in brand new children’s and/or young adult books. The  judging of the applications was rigorous, as every school exemplified a significant need.

We have selected 3 Book Bonanza Beyond winners. The Beyond winner is a low-income private school in the Black Belt Region of the state, or a public school demonstrating significant economic need in an area of the state outside of the Black Belt. The purpose of this award is to give an 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.

We hope that you will join us in congratulating the following winning school libraries:

Book Bonanza Black Belt Winners:

  • Aliceville High School, serving grades 9-12 (Pickens County), Librarian TaNeezia Cook
  • Amelia Love Johnson School, serving grades K-12 (Marengo County), Librarian Irene Pettway
  • Francis Marion School, serving graded K-12 (Perry County), Librarian Collette Fikes
  • F. S. Ervin Elementary School, serving grades PK-6 (Wilcox County), Librarian  Essie Morris
  • Greene County High School, serving grades 9-12 (Greene County), Librarian Lillian Lewis
  • Greensboro Elementary School, serving grades PK-5 (Hale County), Librarian Betsy Ward
  • Greenville Middle School, serving grades 5-8 (Butler County), Librarian Anna Salter
  • U.S. Jones Elementary School, serving grades 3-5 (Marengo County), Librarian Emily Windham
Book Bonanza Beyond Winner:
  • Alexander Middle School, serving grades 7-8 (Tallapoosa County), Librarian Tonya Simmons
  • Evans Elementary School, serving grades 5-6 (Marshall County), Librarian Jamie McKee
  • W.O. Lance Elementary School, serving grades PK-6 (Chambers County), Librarian Candy Crance
Note: County listed is the county in which the school resides and not necessarily the name of the school system.

Established in 2009 by Dr. Jamie Naidoo, 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 in January 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 in January 2019 to be a Beyond Winner.  If you need additional information about the program, please contact Dr. Jamie C. Naidoo at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu or SLIS at 205-348-4610. Information is also available on the program website: http://blackbeltbookbonanza.weebly.com.