Mohawk Valley Library System

Category: Youth Services

  • Grant Opportunity – ALDI Smart Kids Program

    ALDI Smart Kids is a program dedicated to supporting the health and wellness of the children in the communities ALDI serves. In our service area, there are ALDI stores in Johnstown, Amsterdam, Glenville and Schenectady. The program supports local community organizations that encourage kids to be active in the areas of education, physical activity, nutrition, socializing and the arts. Program support ranges from monetary donations to ALDI gift cards, in amounts from $100 to $5000.

    Eligible organizations must have a 501(c)(3) to qualify. Applications are accepted through an online from between February 1 and December 15 each year and are awarded on a rolling basis. Visit https://corporate.aldi.us/en/corporate-responsibility/aldi-smart-kids/ for complete details and links to the application.

  • Grant Opportunity – The Pilcrow Foundation

    The Pilcrow Foundation supports rural public library communities through the Children’s Book Project. Libraries qualify for the Children’s Book Project grant on an individual basis. To qualify for the grant, libraries must be located in a rural area within the 50 United States, have a limited operating budget, have an active children’s department, and raise $200-$400 through a local sponsor. Libraries with total operating budgets of less than $50,000 will receive funding priority; however, town libraries with total operating budgets over $150,000 may also apply for grants. Annual application deadlines for grant cycles are April 1 and October 1 with notification of award by email on April 15 and October 15. We are not able to notify librarians who do not receive a grant. Please visit our Rural Public Libraries Grant page for more information about the matching grant. https://thepilcrowfoundation.org/childrens-book-project/

  • Free STEM Challenge Kits Available through 4-H

    Galactic Quest is the 2021 4-H STEM Challenge, 4-H’s annual initiative to inspire kids everywhere to build confidence and spark interest in STEM. Libraries can get a free kit by filling out this online form as soon as possible—kits will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis until supplies run out. Galactic Quest is suitable for kids aged 8–14 with little-to-no experience with STEM. Each kit serves 12 kids at a time and is reusable. To help improve the product, recipients will be asked to complete a short survey after they’ve had a chance to use the kits.

    Learn more about Galactic Quest and the 4-H STEM Challenge at 4-h.org/STEMChallenge. Additional kits are available for purchase at https://shop4-h.org/products/galatic-quest. Questions? Please contact Griffin Schwed at gschwed@4-h.org.

  • Grant Opportunity – Inclusive Financial Literacy Programming Kit for Kids

    Up to 100 public and school libraries will be selected to receive an Inclusive Financial Literacy Programming Kit to help them provide diverse financial literacy titles and programming for children and young people in their communities.

    Each kit will contain:

    • The Inclusive Financial Literacy book list, developed by a team of librarian advisors in collaboration with ALA and the FINRA Foundation, with corresponding best practices and programming ideas for public and school libraries
    • One copy of Rainy Day Ready: Financial Literacy Programs and Tools edited by Melanie Welch and Patrick Hogan for the ALA Public Programs Office (ALA Editions, 2020), a ready-to-use guide for library staff with 16 model financial capability programs
    • One print copy of five books from the book list for libraries to add to their circulating collection

    Public and school libraries (serving children in grades K–8) located in the U.S. and U.S. territories are eligible for this opportunity.

    Application Information

    To be considered for one of the 100 programming kits, you must complete an online application. The application will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please only submit one application per library or branch.

    ALA will accept applications for this opportunity from November 10, 2021, to January 3, 2022. Each eligible request will be reviewed by a panel of librarians, FINRA Foundation staff and ALA staff.

    Key Dates and Contact Info

    • Application Deadline: January 3, 2022
    • Award Notification: January 2022
    • Programming Kits Distributed: February–March 2022

    If you have questions about the exhibition or the application, contact:

    American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office
    1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045
    publicprograms@ala.org

  • Free Webinar – Thinking Outside : Nature-based Programs at the Library

    Date: Thursday, December 16, 2021
    Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErdeugrzwpG9DhyytwR0kLrZMqrJBVyjAX
    Presenters: Nate Keefe

    Are you interested in implementing nature-based programming to help connect your patrons to the natural world? Nature programming can help you attract new audiences, as well as deepen your relationship with the library’s “frequent flyers.” In addition, nature programming can help foster a conservation ethic that will guide the way towards a sustainable future. Join school librarian and longtime environmental educator Nate Keefe to explore how to create nature programming that will suit the needs of both your patrons and your library.

    In this online, 1-hour interactive discussion, we will discuss the role your library can play in community nature programming, and how libraries can leverage community partnerships to maximize impact. We will also explore opportunities for “DIY” nature programming, and have a robust idea-sharing session. Finally, participants will evaluate their own unique library settings to identify assets, and will be provided with a downloadable handout with actionable, take-away ideas that require minimal resources to get started right away.

    Free to ESLN Members (MVLS libraries, select CDLC as your ESLN Council). Registration is required.