Grant funds help expand Sikeston Public Library's collection

Brianna Johnson looks over some of the graphic novels recently purchased by the Sikeston Public Library with funds received through a Public Library Collection Development Grant. The more than $6,000 received enabled the Library to purchase children's audiobooks, graphic novels, urban fiction and general non-fiction books. Jill Bock, Staff

SIKESTON - New books are starting to appear on the shelves at the Sikeston Public Library thanks to grant funds targeted at enhancing the library's collection.

In March, the library received a $6,302.07 Public Library Collection Development Grant.

"There were few stipulations put on the receipt of the grant," said the library's Assistant Director Ron Eifert, who is also serving as the project manager for the grant. "We weren't allowed to spend money on databases or ongoing subscriptions, but physical materials that would be kept in the library. We have been given a lot of leeway with how to spend the grant money in a way that will benefit the library the most."

After discussion with library staff members, Eifert focused the funds on four areas in the library's collection that are typically underdeveloped due to budget constraints.

"The first area we targeted was our children's audiobooks," Eifert said. "While many parents check them out for entertainment, many other parents were requesting titles that their children could read the physical book while listening to the audiobook, to help build reading fluency and confidence."

The library used grant funds to purchase 42 audiobooks on compact disc to accompany books already in the collection. Titles range from favorite series such as "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" by Rick Riordan and the Theodore Boone novels by John Grisham, to many of this year's Show-Me and Truman Award nominees.

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