Earlier this year, James Patterson announced a personal pledge of $1.75 million to save school libraries in the second installment of his School Library Campaign. Today, he distributes these funds to 452 schools across the country in grants that range from $1,000 to $10,000.
In partnership with Scholastic Reading Club, the Patterson Pledge program was launched in 2015 as part of an ongoing effort to keep books and reading a priority for children in the United States. Since the program launched, Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club have received over 32,000 entries to the library grant programs, and awarded funds to over 900 recipients. School libraries across the country used this funding to purchase new books, add bookshelves, make improvements to their catalog systems, and expand their programing. Scholastic matches each dollar with bonus points that allow teachers to buy classroom materials, including books. Patterson believes that enhancements to school libraries will not only help to foster a love of reading, but will boost academic achievement overall.
We sat down with him in our latest episode of the Scholastic Reads podcast to talk about his commitment to saving school libraries and the important role that teachers and librarians play in the lives of their students. Patterson is joined by Teresa Israel, a New York elementary school librarian whose school received one of Patterson's grants.
Pop in your earbuds and have a listen, either by clicking here or by subscribing to Scholastic Reads in iTunes. And catch up on past episodes right here!
The full list of schools receiving grants is now available online at www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership/recipients/.
Photo: Sue Patterson
