Corbin School System gets $200,000 grant to improve its libraries

Corbin school officials announced Tuesday that the school system has received a grant in the amount of $199,149 for the district’s Reading for Everyone through Accessing School Libraries (REAL) program.

The program will work toward improving student literacy skills and academic performance by updating library materials, increasing the number of books, upgrading technology, enhancing professional development for certified library media specialists and extending the hours of operation for school libraries to allow students and their families to use the facilities.

Specific activities for the ILSL program will include creating collaborative teams of library media specialists and classroom teachers and designing programs that will promote literacy beyond current funding levels. Such programs would include Reading with the Redhounds, a peer-reading initiative that is based upon the America Reads model, a nationally recognized, research-based literacy program.

Other activities would include expanding library collections, providing resources such as audiobooks, large print books, and books to address LEP (Limited English Proficient), and meeting family literacy needs. Increase in hours of operation will provide opportunities for students and families to engage in programs outside the school day, promoting literacy throughout the year.