Libri Grant Provides Books For Kids

WAITSBURG - The Weller Public Library in Waitsburg now boasts about 70 new books to entertain children of all ages through the summer months.

Library Manager Rosie Warehime said the addition of the books to the library is just in time for the summer reading program, which will begin June 21.

"It's huge," Warehime said with a laugh.

The new books are in the library thanks to a matching grant from the Libri Foundation, called the Books For Children grant. The grant primarily focuses on getting more books into rural libraries like the one in Waitsburg.

The Libri Foundation is a nationwide-nonprofit organization that donates new, quality children's books to small libraries. The organization's founders believe in order for children to develop a love of reading, "children must have access to books that stretch their imaginations, touch their emotions and expand their horizons."

The foundation bestowed upon Waitsburg's library $1,050 from its general booklist and $350 for math and science books. Warehime said the Friends of the Library kicked in some funding as well.

The Libri Foundation has provided books before to the library and Warehime said it can apply every three years.

The books gifted to the library from the foundation will have a special bookplate inside each book declaring who made the donation possible.

The grant application for these books was actually completed by the previous library manager Su Alexander, and Warehime said it was the right thing to do to let Alexander go through the 700-title booklist and select what was best for Waitsburg children.

Alexander said she had a blast going through the extensive list of titles. She decided to get books for all ages, from little kids just starting to read to teens who consume big chapter books.

Alexander said she tried to obtain some of the newer books that the kids won't have read before. And she also purchased some that she knew had been checked out and never returned.

"This gives the kids a lot more to read," Alexander said.

And while the library staff learned last September it would be receiving the books, Warehime said she honestly didn't expect them to arrive until the summer had already began.

The timing is perfect to keep kids busy with new books once school gets out for summer break.

"It's getting close to the end of the school year and more kids will be getting to the library," Warehime said.

The Weller Public Library is open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 509-337-8149.