The Albemarle Regional Library (ARL) has been awarded three grants that will be available beginning July 1.

The first grant is the 2017 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant offered by the American Library Association. The grant was written by Jennifer Patterson, ARL Director and is awarded to the Lawrence Memorial Library (LML).

“Lawrence Memorial Library is the first library in North Carolina to receive this grant,” Patterson said.

She went on to add that Lawrence Library was chosen due to the loss of half of its children’s book collection at their previous 204 Dundee Street location in downtown Windsor.  This facility was flooded twice in September and October of 2016 by Tropical Storm Julia and Hurricane Matthew, respectively.

“A temporary facility has been identified for (our relocation),” Patterson stated, “but it is still unknown as to when this branch will reopen.”

LML will receive copies of titles submitted for the 2017 Coretta Scott King Book Awards, including a full set of this year’s winner and honor books.

Designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to also honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.  Further, the Award encourages the artistic expression of the black experience via literature and the graphic arts in biographical, social, and historical treatments by African American authors and illustrators.

2017 King Award winners include: “Freedom Over Me: 11 Slaves, their Lives and Dreams brought to life by Ashley Bryan”, “Freedom in Congo Square”, “Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquait”, “March: Book Three”, “In Plain Sight”, and “As Brave as You”

“This collection will provide children with quality books that reflect the community’s demographics and give a bright spot in the lives of people who sustained losses during the storm,” Patterson said.

The second grant, also written by Patterson, is the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant to aid libraries who suffered flood damage and loss. This LSTA grant will provide $50,000 also to Lawrence Memorial Library and will be used to purchase books and computers that were damaged during the floods.

“Both the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant and the LSTA grant could not have come at a better time for LML as it is hopeful they will reopen soon,” said Patterson.

The third grant is also a LSTA grant written by ARL System Administrator Tammy Lewter. This grant supports lifelong learning and literacy. Patterson said this grant will be used to purchase laptops to provide computer training to library staff and our communities.

“As a result of this grant, Albemarle Regional Library will soon begin to offer computer classes to assist our patrons in learning some basic computer skills; something that’s much needed in our community,” Patterson related.

LSTA grants are made possible through funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

“Albemarle Regional Library is making every effort to continue to bring new services to the libraries we serve that will benefit our patrons, community and staff as a whole,” said Patterson.