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Sydney wrote: >I would love to have authors come and visit my 2 schools. The problem is >money. >How do you get the funds to pay for visits? My library is funded from our >central Office and this year I get the whopping sums of $702. at one >school and >$1200. at the other school. With these funds I am expected to purchase books, >software and reference materials. Does anyone have any sites or information on >where to find grants? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Well, last week's news from Tennessee was good--that there was a state ruling about flexible access in libraries. But wow! This is stunning, Sydney. I can't imagine how either of these budgets will pay for more than a fraction of your costs, and of course they can't. But to answer your question about author visits: I have several suggestions. First of all--and I hope that some TN librarians chime in too--you should look for state grant foundations. For instance, here in Maine, we have the wonderful Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. They have funded many worthy projects related to books, libraries, literacy, and reading. A librarian has a funding request in to the Foundation now seeking funding for an author visit she hopes to have from me. Are there foundations in TN that fund literacy/reading efforts in your state? How about the Coca-Cola Foundation? The Tennessee Anytime site has a page on Grant Writing for education with lots of links. I really encourage you to look there http://www.state.tn.us/education/grwriting.htm Second, what about local foundations? I am assuming that if these existed, you'd already know about them. But I know that in the very small community in which I live (Buxton, Maine), a couple won the lottery last year and have established a foundation that supports, among other things, libraries and education. And they are funding an author visit (with yours truly) for all fifth graders in town and buying them each a copy of THE SEA CHEST (as a tie-in to Maine history). They are also funding a visit with two other authors for all first graders and all third graders and a book for each of them too! The Foundation Center's Finding Funders site has a Tennessee page at http://fdncenter.org/funders/grantmaker/gws_comm/comm_tn.html that lists community foundations. Third, what about local or large-profile businesses in your area? Many, many of the librarians I interviewed for TERRIFIC CONNNECTIONS WITH AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, AND STORYTELLERS were funding author visits in school and public libraries with corporate money. Consider this! Fourth, if you can get some SEED money for your first visits, and if you buy the author's books directly from the publisher (at a 40% discount) and then sell them at cover price, you can create a fund out of which you pay future authors! I hope that you'll be able to lay hands on a copy of TERRIFIC CONNECTIONS and gather ideas from the many librarians interviewed there. And I REALLY hope that you find some money--for books AND for authors and illustrators in your school. All the best, Toni Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS <mailto:tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com> Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year Emerita Portland, ME 04103 http://www.tonibuzzeo.com Terrific Connections with Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers (Libraries Unlimited 1999) The Sea Chest, illustrated by Mary GrandPre (Dial 2002) NEWLY PUBLISHED! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=