Maribelle M. Davis Library, 7501-B Independence
Parkway, and W. O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit
Road, were recently awarded two $2,500 grants from
The Texas Book Festival to provide additional teen
math and science-related study materials and to
expand the adult graphic novel collections.
Plano Public Library System (PPLS) librarians, Suman
Aladangady and Cathe Spencer, collaborated with
Plano Independent School District librarians to
identify science and math materials Plano middle
school (sixth-eighth grades) students could check
out and use at home.
PPLS Librarians, Joyce Dorsey and Annie Frank,
requested a Texas Book Festival grant for adult
graphic novels. Graphic novels have become a
recognized type of reading material and a respected
art form. Funds from this grant will be used to
upgrade the current collection.
The Texas Book Festival was founded in 1995 by First
Lady Laura Bush to celebrate authors and their
contributions to literacy and imagination. This
year the Festival will take place Nov. 3-4 at the
State Capitol in Austin. The 2006 Festival
attracted more than 40,000 attendees and featured
authors including Senator Barack Obama, Gore Vidal
and Maureen Dowd.
“We are thrilled to be able to support Texas
libraries and the invaluable services that they
provide to the citizens of this state,” said Mary
Herman, Texas Book Festival Director. “At a time
when funding for libraries continues to be cut on an
annual basis, Texas Book Festival grants become even
more critical in supporting libraries as they
promote reading and literacy in Texas.”
For information on Plano Public Library System,
visit www.planolibrary.org. For information on the
Texas Book Festival, visit
www.texasbookfestival.org.
