Target for School Library Makeover Program
Target Corp. has announced 42 new schools that will receive a new library as part of the 2011 Target School Library Makeover program.
Education experts and advocates such as Alma Powell of the America’s Promise Alliance and Sir Ken Robinson, along with elected officials including Congressman John Kline, Chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee and Congressman Gene Green (TX-29), were invited to celebrate this announcement with the principals at the Library of Congress.
[ Also Visit: RMN Kids – Edutainment Site for Children ]Additionally, principals from among the 42 elementary schools participated in a Principal Summit, led by Ralph Smith of The Annie E. Casey Foundation. The summit was designed to inspire school leaders, provide best practices for cultivating reading skills by using their new libraries, and explore how educators approach literacy strategies.
Moreover, the retail company Target has announced its plans to donate over $500 million by the end of 2015 to support education. The financial commitment is part of Target’s reading initiative, Target Read With Me, aimed at helping more U.S. children read proficiently by the end of third grade. (Read: Target to Give $1 Billion in Support of Education)
[ Also Read: Oprah Offers $1.5 M for School in Zimbabwe ]Meanwhile, supported by two-time Grammy nominee Justin Bieber, Pencils of Promise (PoP) – an organization that builds schools in the developing world – is trying to solve the global education crisis. Adam Braun, founder of PoP, in a discussion with Rakesh Raman. (Read: Adam Braun Makes a Penciled Promise to Children)
“In order to give our students a competitive advantage and ensure our country remains globally competitive, it is critical for us to invest in education,” said Congressman Kline, chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee.
Each of the 42 library makeovers will feature a complete renovation, which includes light construction, eco-friendly design elements and technology upgrades.
New furniture, carpet, shelves and 2,000 books will also be included in the new spaces, and every student and his or her siblings will receive seven new books to add to their own at-home collections.
The majority of the newly renovated library unveilings are scheduled to take place from August to November.
Small Town Blues
I am the current librarian at Trinity High School, located in Weaverville, CA. We are a small Northern California high school with 430 students total. The school has slowly been in the process of updating certian portions of the facilities around campus, but the library is perhaps the last to be looked at. With the way the California State budget has been, I wanted to look into any opportunity that our high school may have for the chance to have a library makeover.
I feel coming from such a small high school, the library is the hub for any school and when that key portion is overlooked the chance to really show the students how reading, research, and technology should help with whatever they choose to do within their lives, is crucial.
Please let me know how to receive information on this wonderful opportunity because without a makeover for the hub of literature, the knowledge that is held within for every student to explore will be lost if its home cannot be updated.
I am a high school teacher from Hackleburg Alabama. Our school was completely destroyed by the April 27th EF5 tornado. Is there any way you can help us with the building and or books/computers for a new library. We have nothing left. Let me know what I need to do. Thanks so much. Virginia Cantrell
I am a high school teacher from Hackleburg High School where we were hit by an F5 tornado in May 2011. I would like to know how to enter for the new library makeover.
Thank you Rita Taylor