The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) announced today that nine school libraries in Indiana have been awarded a $500 collection development mini-grant.

The funds were made available to MCLS member libraries through a grant program established by the MCLS Board of Trustees from the proceeds of the sale of the former INCOLSA building in Indiana.

According to MCLS Executive Director, Randy Dykhuis, “School libraries are vital to student success, yet many of them do not have enough funds to purchase new materials to support the curriculum, keep up with new formats, and support the love of reading. We are happy to be able to contribute to the important work of school libraries through this grant program.”

The selected school libraries plan to use the grant funds to enhance their collections in various ways, including adding popular teen titles, overhauling their classics collection, purchasing books reflecting their school’s diverse student population, expanding ebook and Playaway audiobook collections, adding graphic novels, and updating a very outdated non-fiction section.

The following libraries were selected:

• Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, Columbus North High School
• Danville Community School Corporation, South Elementary Library
• Delphi Community School Corporation, Delphi Community Middle School
• Franklin County Community School Corporation, Franklin County High School (Brookville)
• Marian High School, Loesch Family Library (Mishawaka)
• Rossville Consolidated Schools, Rossville Middle/High School
• South Bend Community School Corporation, Clay Intermediate Center
• Vigo County School Corporation, West Vigo Elementary (Terre Haute)
• West Central School Corporation, West Central Elementary School (Francesville)