|
Purpose
of the Mini-Grants: As part of a
2004 project for the W. K. Kellogg
Foundation, the Texas Library Association awarded mini-grants to
public and school librarians within the state who wished to implement an
initial El día de los niños/El día de los libros event or add to an
existing program. Read the grant summaries below to see
how
the recipients celebrated DNDL in their communities.
Grant Summaries
Aldine
ISD, School Libraries
Individual school
programs developed by librarians will include one or more of the
following: bilingual story time for parents and students during which
parents will receive information on developing literacy at home,
bilingual poetry contest for students to share own poetry, and an
invitation to a professional storyteller and in some cases parent
storytellers. Monies will be used to subsidize the promotion of these
activities including the printing of flyers and bookmarks for all
schools.
Allen
Public Library
On
a Sunday in late April/early May the library will host a 2-hour program
including a half-hour story session for children performed by a
bilingual librarian or teacher, a half-hour session for parents on home
literacy, an interactive presentation by a local Latino performer.
Refreshments will be served and a library information table will be made
available. Monies from the grant will subsidize costs of the performer,
flyers, storyteller, posters and bookmarks, decorations, and
refreshments.
Arlington
Public Library
On
Saturday, May 1 a three-hour program will be held inspired by Peter
Sis’s multicultural and multilingual book, Madlenka. Local community
groups such as LULAC, Arab Heritage Society, the Samoan Church, and
members of the African-American community will man tables featuring an
activity, craft, demonstration, or craft connected with their cultural
group. Attendees with “passports” will tour the different
“countries” to learn and collect souvenirs. Grant funds will
supplement Arlington Public Library funds, Friends of Arlington Library
Funds to subsidize staff time, two guest speakers, plastic book bags and
stickers, sample multicultural/multilingual books, and advertising.
Arlington
ISD, Roquemore Elementary
In
order to promote bicultural pride, an all-day presentation by Mauricio
Ripke, author of Chirrioneras III, The Last Action Hijo. The grant funds
will pay the fee for Mr. Ripke to make presentations to all students
during that day and will allow for local activity funds to purchase one
bilingual book per grade level to be presented to the library during the
event.
Ben
Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD, Middle School Library
On
April 30, 2004 a two-hour event will be held during which community
leaders will speak to students relating real-life experiences regarding
the importance of reading in their lives. These same community leaders
will also read to the students from pre-selected works. Concurrently, a
Reading professor from Texas A&M University, Kingsville, will
address parents. A reading list of award-winning books will be
distributed at this time. Grant funds will cover an honorarium for the
visiting professor, reading motivational items, i.e. bookmarks and
pencils, paper, envelopes, stamps for mailing, and paperbacks for
drawings during the event.
Cedar
Hill, Zula Bryant Wylie Library
A special program will be held on April 10, 2004 during which Solina
Marquis, bilingual storyteller will perform followed by a tour of the
library. After lunch the Mexico 2000 Folklorico Dance School will
present dances from Mexico. Grant funds will be used to pay these
performers.
Corpus
Christi Public Libraries
The
2004 Children’s Book Festival, a weeklong event for three to
five-year-old children, will treat 200-300 children to author readings,
literacy activities, refreshments, and a free book. Grant funds would be
used to purchase dual language books to give to children who attend the
Children’s book festival.
Dallas
ISD
There
will be a special day of celebration for reading and children. Solina
Marquis, a bilingual storyteller and presenter will conduct a program
for all students, pre-kindergarten through grade three. She will also
conduct a workshop for parents of the younger children to promote home
literacy. In addition, students and parents will be involved in a
book-making project. Participating students will receive a free
published book. Funds from this grant will be primarily used to pay for
the 4 presentations made by Solina Marquis.
Denton
Public Library System
A
one-day multi-cultural event will occur at the North Branch on May 8,
2004. The purpose of the event will be to expose the Denton community to
Mexico, other Latino countries, and their customs. Featured at this
event will be bilingual readings by guest speakers, craft booths, games,
and bilingual tours of the library. Grant funds will be applied as
project support in the area of printing supplies and craft supplies.
Denton
ISD, Billy Ryan High School
The Jackie McCormick Library will present an Evening with the Poets
during which 2 or 3 metroplex Latino poets will speak to families of the
Multilingual Club. The poets will share their poetry, take part in
question-answer session and be available for autographing books and
having picture taken with students. The goal for the event is to provide
role models for Latino students and promote the reading of poetry to
elevate reading levels. Grant funds will be used for speaker fees, and
for books.
East
Central ISD
Students
with limited or no bookstore and library experience will be taken on a
field trip to a bookstore and to downtown San Antonio library where they
will be issued library cards. Parents will be given information on
how to encourage children to read. At the bookstore, students will be
encouraged to buy books in their home language to share with their
families. Grant funds would be used to pay for round trip bus
transportation and “seed money” for author event at the bookstore.
Grapevine
Colleyville ISD
An
evening of fun and reading for our Hispanic students and parents will be
held on May 6th in order to strengthen the family/school ties for the
largely Hispanic population. Refreshments will be served and activities
will include: Reader’s Theater by bilingual students, teacher reading
of two or three pre-selected Spanish children’s book along with
appropriate activities for each, and parent/student reading session.
Students will receive one book to keep as a souvenir of the event. Grant
funds will be utilized to purchase books, supplies for activities, and
supporting funds for snacks.
Houston,
Elizabeth Ring Branch Library
Presenters
use clever stories and visual images to combine storytelling with
handmade shadow puppets in a program called “Caribbean Folktales.”
Children are introduced to Spanish words and phrases, and learn how to
create their own shadow puppets. Funds will be used to compensate the
performer and to purchase books to be given away through a drawing to
students attending the function.
Irving
Public Library
The library will hold a half-day outdoor festival to celebrate children,
Hispanic Culture, while promoting the library and its services.
Bilingual library staff will work booths offering library card
registration, library information, games, puppet stage, and the reading
of Mexican folktales. In addition there will be Mexican folk music,
children’s theater, storytellers, hands-on arts and crafts, fire
engine, clowns, and magician. A LULAC representative will give a
motivational talk, and refreshments celebrating Hispanic cuisine will be
provided.
Funds from this grant will purchase 20 books to be given away as door
prizes.
Irving
ISD
In
mid-April, Irving ISD will hold a community/district-wide event that
promotes literacy for young children and their families. Activities
would include a Poetry Corner, Story Corners, String Stories, Craft
Areas, Fairy Tale Bingo, Storyteller events, Talent Showcase, general
entertainment booths, Public Library Bookmobile, and volunteers dressed
in storybook character costumes. Funds will be used to supplement as
needed transportation for performing groups, publicity, and books for
families.
LaMarque
Public Library
A one-hour special event will be held on May 6,2004 at the Community
Room next to City Hall. This program will be for children of all ages
and their parents in order to encourage a lifelong interest in reading
and learning. The program will include a bilingual story time, bilingual
puppet show, and Hispanic dancers. Refreshments will be served and each
family will receive a bilingual book and bookmarks. Grant money will be
used to purchase books to be given to each family.
Lazbuddie
ISD
At a special program after school on May 20 parents and students will be
involved in a make-and-take activity to celebrate “El dia de los niños/El
dia de los libros.” Children will assemble downloaded copies of
bilingual books from Reading A-Z.com. Bookmarks will be made using
decorative cut papers. In addition, folk stories will be read in
Spanish, Mexican folk dancers will perform, and traditional Mexican
refreshments will be served. The Grant money will be used to
purchase refreshments and craft supplies for the construction of the
books and bookmarks.
Melissa
Public Library
Melissa
will have a month long celebration from April 1 through May 1, 2004.
There will be an essay contest on the topic, “Why I Like to Go to the
Melissa Public Library,” written in Spanish. The celebration will
conclude on May 1 with an invitational lunch, bilingual story time,
information about our services, materials for checkout, Spanish Computer
workstation, and presentation of the awards to the winners of the
Spanish language essay. Grant funds will be applied to payment for a
bilingual lead person, invitations, postage, Bilingual Books for prizes,
food for party, awards for essay contest, and publicity for the event.
Little
Elm Community Library
A special program will be presented consisting of stories and
storytelling, music, crafts, and foods of Mexico, Germany, and China.
The children will “travel” to each country where they will be taught
the words to “He’s got the Whole World in His Hands” in the
language of that country. They will also be taught to count to ten in
that language, and hear a story from that country, as well as being
taught to locate the country on a map. There will also be craft tables
and food samples. Grant funds will be applied to the purchase of books
to be used in the program, craft supplies, and food samples.
Presidio
Library
This
year’s special celebration will be held April 30, 2004 at the Presidio
ST Francis Placita. There will be guest speakers from the community,
crafts, Mexican music, and dancing. Information will be given to parents
regarding the library, its services, and bilingual books. Refreshments
will be served, and books will be given to children and their parents.
Grant funds will be used for books, craft supplies and other materials,
refreshments and staff time.
Seguin
ISD, Sequin High School
There
will be a contest inviting students and faculty to write their own
bilingual story or poem. A party will be held to celebrate the winning
entries. Author Pat Mora has been invited to come to share the poems
from her book. The Teatro de Artes de Juan Seguin group will be invited
to perform and members of the Seguin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will
be invited to attend.
Grant funds will be used to pay for the author’s visiting fee and
Teatro de Artes de Juan Seguin performance fee.
Spring
Branch ISD
To
promote literacy and share their love of literature, the Spring Branch
ISD librarians will host a district wide storytelling festival on
Saturday May 1, 2004. Featured will be local authors and storytellers,
student performers and storytellers, parent education promoting home
literacy. Books will be available for purchase with recommended reading
lists. There will also be additional booths sponsored by Houston Public
Library, Harris County Library, and local booksellers. Grant money will
be applied to handouts, advertising, craft materials, decorations,
postage, and signage.
Weslaco
Public Library
The
Weslaco Library is planning a Storytelling Fair, which will include
professional bilingual storytellers and puppeteers. Weslaco High School
Mariachis will perform, as will storytellers and other musicians.
Scholastic Book Fair Co. will also sponsor a book sale. There will be
food booths to fund the Summer Reading Program and door prizes will be
given away. Grant money will be applied to payment for performer fees,
decorations, and door prizes.
|