Viburnum Family Literacy Project
The Viburnum Family Literacy Project promotes the planning,
training, and promotion of family literacy projects among rural
libraries and their community partners. Funded by the Viburnum
Foundation with $3,000 grants to small public libraries in rural
communities, the project is administered by the Center for the
Book, which also organizes and conducts two regional training
workshops each year for new library grantees.
From 1992 until 1997, the project was administered by the Office
of Literacy and Outreach Services of the American Library Association.
In 1998 the Viburnum Foundation awarded the Center for the Book
a three-year grant to administer the Viburnum Family Literacy Project.
This grant coming on the heels of the successful completion of the
five-year Library-Head Start-Museum partnership project, continues
the center's interest in family literacy and in encouraging collaboration
on behalf of books and reading among libraries and other community
organizations that serve children, youth and families.
The training workshops introduce participants to family literacy
practices and techniques, but emphasize partnership possibilities
and local resources. Librarians are trained on how to partner
with community groups and high level state officials are educated
on the importance of libraries, literacy, and reading. Workshop
speakers come from healthcare, juvenile justice, youth services,
childcare, public television, early childhood, and mental health
organizations.
The project is in its fifth year in 2002. Here is a listing
of past and current grants and workshops:
1998 - small grants totaling $100,000 to 30 small rural libraries
in seven Southern states: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The workshops were held in Jackson,
Mississippi (Sept. 9-10) and Albuquerque, New Mexico (Sept. 16-17)
1999 - small grants totaling $120,000 to 40 small rural libraries
in seven southern states and workshops in Austin, Texas (Aug.
19-20) and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Aug. 26-27).
2000 - small grants of $3,000 each to 40 small public libraries
in seven southern states and workshops in Decatur, Georgia (Aug.
24-25) and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Sept. 21-25).
2001 - small grants of $3,000 each to 45 small public libraries
in rural communities in ten states (Arizona, Arkansas, and South
Carolina join the original seven).
2002 - small grants of $3,000 each to 45 small public libraries
in rural communities in ten states and workshops held in
Columbia, South Carolina (Aug. 14-16) and Scottsdale, Arizona
(Sept. 25-27).
2003 - small grants of $3,000 each to 47 small public libraries
in rural communities in ten states. Workshops will be held in
Little Rock, Arkansas (August 14-16) and Austin, Texas (September
11-13).
Read more about the Viburnum Family Literacy Project and other
Center for the Book literacy promotion projects in issues of the
Library of Congress Information Bulletin:
http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0011/cfb.html
http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9911/cfb.html
http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9811/cfb.html
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