During March and April, The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) awarded a record $38,300 in new, free books to elementary, middle and high school libraries in Alabama via the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt & Beyond Program.
School librarians in the Black Belt region were asked to apply for the book give-away program in February 2022. SLIS received applications from 15 highly deserving schools. The judges chose three school libraries in the Black Belt Region of the state to receive on average $6,700 each in brand new children’s and young adult books. The judging of the applications was rigorous, as every school exemplified a significant need.
SLIS also selected three 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. Each of these schools will receive on average $6000 in brand new children’s and young adult books.
Please join SLIS in congratulating the following winning school libraries.
2022 Book Bonanza Black Belt Winners
2022 Book Bonanza Beyond Winners
Established in 2009 by Dr. Jamie Campbell Naidoo, the SLIS Book Bonanza for the Black Belt (& Beyond) is an annual program that provides new, free books to school libraries in the Black Belt region of the state. For additional information about the program, please contact Dr. Jamie C. Naidoo at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu or visit the program website here.
