Published: April 01, 2008 09:41 am            

LG Early Learning Center receives grant

Locust Grove Early Learning Center was awarded a $2,000 Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant for the purchase of new library books and other resources. Librarian Donna Kirby applied for the grant Feb. 5 and was notified Feb. 25 her library was one of three in Oklahoma to receive a Dollar General grant.

The Early Learning Center serves 356 students in Pre-K through first grade. In the past, the second grade was also at the ELC, but now second graders attend classes at the Upper Elementary leaving only beginning readers at the Early Learning Center.

In an effort to change the ELC library to an early literacy library, Kirby hopes to bring in more age appropriate books and resources with the grant money. She plans to purchase books, Accelerated Reader quizzes and resources for beginning readers. Some of the books she plans to purchase with the grant are "big books," or oversized books checked out and used by teachers to promote reading. Kirby is also purchasing some books with cassettes to help with reading comprehension.

"We are in desperate need of books, quizzes and resources for our students," Kirby wrote in the grant. "The program is designed to help our students become successful and enthusiastic readers with specially selected books, quizzes and resources."

Kirby is also writing grants to Wal-Mart, Lowe’s and the Oliver Dewey "Jock" Mayor Foundation. She hopes to receive funding to build new lower shelving in the library with the Lowe’s grant and 17 Smartboards for teachers at the Early Learning Center from the Mayor Foundation grant.

Kirby has several events planned for the library in April offering plenty of opportunities for parents to see changes being made in the library. The ELC library will host a book fair April 9-18. Other events include a family reading night April 10, 3 to

5 p.m., Doughnuts for Dads, April 15, from 7:30 to

8:30 a.m. and Muffins for Moms April 17, from 7:30 to

8:30 a.m.

        

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