Burlington County Library System Director Ranjna Das recently announced that BCLS received $9,497 in grant funding, which will support new literacy initiatives to benefit county residents.
BCLS was one of a dozen public libraries to receive a 2018 Literacy Collection Development Grant from the New Jersey State Library. The $1,997 grant allows the library system to update and expand the literacy collection available to the growing English Language Learners community at BCLS. Specifically, the funds will be used to purchase high-school equivalency prep books; fiction for beginning to intermediate adult readers; the Oxford Picture Dictionary; and financial literacy books.
In addition, the Burlington County Library System Foundation was the recipient of a $7,500 grant from Literacy Access Fund. The funds enabled the purchase of a new AWE Platinum computer designed for 21st century digital learning, as well as a suite of coding robots that offer hands-on digital literacy learning programs.
“Grant funding is vital to any library, and with a system as large as BCLS we are always looking to pursue opportunities that enable us to enhance our offerings to the community,” said Das. “BCLS is fortunate to have passionate staff members who seek out and apply for grants, as well as a dedicated Foundation that secures funding on our behalf. This team effort helps us to continue to meet the ever-evolving needs of Burlington County residents of all ages.”
According to Burlington County Library System Commission Chair Jonathan Chebra, “the grant from the New Jersey State Library will help BCLS fulfill its mission to enrich lives by providing opportunities for learning, growth and personal development by expanding the BCLS Adult Literacy Collection.” This project is supported by funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the New Jersey State Library.
