1. Apple Grove Elementary School

Apple Grove serves in various capacities for the school community. Our library is a space where teachers receive their professional development; it is utilized for academic and social emotional interventions; it is where families gather to receive resources; in addition, it is where all of our scholars visit daily to receive classes to support and enrich them in their curriculum. The librarian creates opportunities for extended learning for students, staff and families.

Why vote for us? We would greatly appreciate anyone's consideration to cast a vote on Apple Grove's behalf for various reasons: First, our library is not handicap accessible; second, many books in our library are over 30 years old; third, the furniture is the original furniture from when the school opened aging at over 60 years old; fourth, the lighting is poor which makes it challenging for students to enjoy books; five, there are limited resources to support students' curiosity and a lot of materials are bought by the teachers in the building.

Fun fact: Apple Grove Elementary was once an apple orchard         

2. Crescent Public School Library 

The school library is a unique and essential part of a learning community. They are safe havens for kids, providing after-school homework help, games, and book clubs. A school library is a place of curiosity, critical thinking, and discovery. For the community, our school library is a place of opportunity. Many do not utilize the small community library in the town. So, the library at the school helps students engage and take-home materials they may not otherwise get to interact with.

Why vote for us? We are a small rural school that serves PK-12. Our town sits on 1.1 square miles, but we serve students within 136.7 square miles. Our school has a 65% Free and Reduced status. As we grow as a community, we want to ensure that our school facilities are providing the best opportunities for our students. Making updates to our school library will continue to make our students more college/career ready and help students discover something new.

Fun fact: In the 1890's, immediately following the Land Run of 89, schools were a luxury. However, the new citizens of Crescent had an interest in education. When the blacksmith loaned his shop for a classroom, Crescent had its first school. The history of our community is tied closely to our history, but as we evolve in education, we want our library to also provide newer opportunities.

3. Dewey County Library

The Dewey County Library is located in a town of about 400 people and serves the whole county which is located on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in western South Dakota. The Dewey County Library not only is a place to check out books, but also offers many services to the community, such as internet access, computers, faxing & copying services.

Why vote for us? The Dewey County Library is underfunded and located in a rural and high poverty area. The new librarian has turned it into a welcoming positive local resource with her authentic, helpful, cheerful, and hardworking demeaner. Due to a very limited budget the library needs help to continue creating a space where the entire community can learn and thrive!

Fun fact: In the last 10 months the library has had many new changes, such as the Libby/Overdrive digital and audio book services offered, the addition of its first website, new book discussions, and a summer reading program.

4. Hazel Green Elementary School

Hazel Green Elementary School’s library is at the heart of a school-wide effort to awaken students to the magic of the written word. The library is a place devoted to nurturing a love of reading through daily read-alouds and other wonder-inspiring library programming. The librarian leads outreach to families, coaching them on how to make reading an enjoyable habit within their home life. The library hosts reading events that help ignite a love of reading in the community, events aimed at building connections between generations and developing positive associations with books and libraries.

Why vote for us? Located in a historically disenfranchised region of Appalachia, the community faces many challenges related to poverty and low graduation rates. Despite those disadvantages, the students and staff make great gains toward literacy at Hazel Green Elementary. For the past eight years, the school has received the highest marks in various state accountability models. Additional recognitions include, U.S. Department of Education, National Blue Ribbon School, U.S. News Best Elementary School, and a rank as high as 25th in KY. Most importantly, they see students growing as readers every single day. Hazel Green Elementary School’s wants students to have access to a modern, vibrant facility that matches their excitement for learning. The hope is to surround them with colorful art that affirms the beauty of Appalachian culture, which is all too often stigmatized. For many struggling and/or reluctant readers, they want to provide them with a pleasant library experience, a cozy place for story time. The belief is that if students can get excited about going to the library, then, by extension, they are more likely to get excited about reading. They also hope to meet the needs of reluctant readers by adding a new graphic novel section to our library.

Fun fact: Hazel Green’s mascot is the mighty bullfrog

5. McLean County Public Library

McLean County Public Library was the last public library created in the state of Kentucky, in 2011. We are housed in a building that was built in the late 1800's and still maintains the original staircase and basic footprint. They love the old building but it does present some challenges! They have fought an uphill battle in creating and maintaining their identity in our very small community in western Kentucky. The Librarian served on countless committees and steering groups throughout the county, city, region, and nationally, ranging from economic development, serving as president of the local Chamber of Commerce and the local school calendar committee! The Outreach Coordinator, has single-handedly delivered books and materials to almost every individual in the community. She also drives the bookmobile, making regular stops at schools, homes and businesses throughout the county. She has also served on several local committees in our community and serves on the CSLP board as well.   

Why vote for us? The community is proud of the library and would love to see its interior reflect that fact. Their budget is very limited, which is focused on providing materials and services for patrons. The Outreach Coordinator and the Director painted the windows and trim work, just to give the public areas a face-lift. They would love to be able to give the public areas a much-needed face-lift! The carpeting is worn, the furniture is dated, and the lighting is not quite up to par, but it's clean and as the patrons say, "it smells good!". The hope is to be able to offer their patrons a bright, welcoming space with a few modern touches. 

Fun fact: They are housed in a building from the late 1800's, but have also inherited a ghost! They have had ghost hunters in the building!

6. Okolona Carnegie Library

Okolona Carnegie Library is a community hub serving a city of around 2,700. OCL is the main resource for job searches, homework, and leisure time reading & movies for the community. It is the #1 location for both things past – over 100 years of dedication in library service – and things future – helping build, equip, and enrich the community from ages 0 – 100. OCL Librarian has been providing library service to the community for nearly 28 years, leading story time for children, assisting students with assignments, adults with computer access, and providing all ages with access to volumes of stories and information. She strives to make sure her community receives the information, help, and support they need – regardless of what that may be.  

Why vote for us? Okolona Carnegie Library is a staple in the City of Okolona. Generations of Okolona’s citizens have utilized and supported OCL. OCL has remained true to its purpose of serving the community through times of hardship and blessing. If OCL were to win the Cloud Cuckoo Land Library Makeover, it would recognize the community’s long history of support as well as help launch it into the future of continued service. It is a friendly place where all are welcome!

Fun fact: OCL served as the home of the community's "Haunted Basement" event for over 20 years. OCL is one of only four Mississippi Carnegie Libraries still operating as a library. The library lawn off Main Street is home to a Story Labyrinth.

7. Reese Road Leadership Academy

The library media center is the heart of the school. The librarian works with all students and teachers to promote reading and STEAM. The school engages in reading incentives such as book fairs, author visits, Read Across America Week, book tastings, and National Library Month. Reese Road Leadership Academy participates in a variety of outreach programs such as Kindergarten story time and Guys Read with the Chattahoochee Valley Library. Our partners in Education also participate in Read Across America to promote the library and the love of reading.

Why vote for us? The school was built in 1958 and has not ever had updates other than paint. The library is the heart of the school and supports all students and teachers, so please vote for the RRLA Library Media Center to win a library makeover! The library is a great size but with better shelving we could better utilize the space to accommodate all learners.

Fun fact: In recent years, the librarian and the art teacher have painted murals inside and outside of the library to make it more inviting!

8. Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School

When the librarian was in library school, she used to believe that the school library was like a lighthouse; it shines its light in times of dark, it is help in times of rough seas, but since joining the Clemente community, she really sees the library as the lungs of our school. It's where students come to take what they need and return what they don't (a lot like a deep breath). To extend this metaphor, she believes her role as librarian is to cultivate an oxygen tent for the students, one that includes a new way of thinking, discerning, connecting, and making which helps reinvigorates our students’ senses of the world.

Why vote for us? How do you know yourself if you don't see yourself? The students deserve a validating mirror reflecting back to them, their lived experiences. The world has changed four times since the library was last renovated, and the current message can't be that our kids deserve old, broken things.

Fun fact: The librarian is the first in thirteen years, and since then, she has increased the age of the library's collection by 32 YEARS! Another fun fact, whilst cleaning, they uncovered hand-written attendance records from the 1800s! It's a fascinating piece of Chicago history that has become a teachable moment, prompting the following questions: how have neighborhoods changed? How have wars affected these attendance records? Lastly, how were systems in place without the use of technology?

9. Carroll Teague Elementary Library

The Teague Elementary Library plays an important role in our community by giving patrons access to quality literature and a safe space to work. Any community member is able to check out from the library, as long as they check in with the front office first. In addition the library offers WIFI, computers, and space for people who are looking to learn English through the use of Rosetta Stone. The librarian is important in this role because she is the one helping to organize and facilitate everything that is happening in the library as well as making it a welcoming place for all to enjoy.

Why vote for us? The Teague Elementary Library is truly the heart of the school. It is a safe space for all to come, enjoy, and relax while reading quality literature and enjoying makerspace activities. A library makeover would help by making the space brighter, more welcoming, and more inclusive for all those who are looking to enjoy our library. The library services around 750 children each year in addition to parents, teachers, volunteers, and community members.



Fun fact: The Teague Elementary School Library is very interesting in that it is part of an open concept school. This means there are no doors that come into the library, and the library is literally in the middle of the school. There are two main hallways and those main hallways are part of the library with shelving on the outside of each hallway. This leads to constant foot traffic coming through the library at all times. Open concept is a very interesting layout and leads to the librarian being able to see students at all times as well as parents and community members seeing the entire library every time they enter the school.

10. Westfield Public Library

Like many small, rural libraries we are so much more than books. We work hard to provide a place where everyone can come and feel welcomed. The librarian works hard and feels personally it is her job to do everything she can to make sure patrons have access to the internet and the opportunities it provides, the newest bestsellers and movies, and above all else, a place they can call a home away from home. The library hosts a really good summer reading program and a library book club for adults. 
 
Why vote for us? Westfield Public Library is a very small library in a poor, rural area. We are not big or fancy, but we care deeply about our patrons. We do not have endowments attached to the library, so we have to plan carefully for any improvements. Every cent for every resource we provide to our small community is hard-fought and makes a world of difference to patrons who have and continue to support us. Winning this would be an opportunity to say thank you, and to extend access to the internet, literature, information and a wonderful place to get curious to a community we love so dearly who could so desperately use the help.

Fun fact: Every week since the start of the pandemic, we have posted a video to bring the library to the children. "AloneTogetherStorytime" has hundreds of videos that now serve as a source of comfort and learning to those all throughout our community who could not otherwise join in on the library fun. We're called the "Unquiet Library" because the old trope of being silent has no home here. (As well as it being inaccurate-we're such a small library, you can't help but say hello to our other patrons, and we couldn't be quiet if we tried!) We pride ourselves on including businesses and leaders in the community, who are always excited to help the kids learn more about their environment.