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For many ICCS students, the library is one of the few places they will be able to go to study quietly and to use technology not available to them at home. ICCS has many students who are on financial aid, with over 50% qualifying for free or reduced cost school lunches. Currently the library is in a shared space with the art room and after-school care.
Our immediate goal is to expand the school's collection of books, especially in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) topics. We are also working on acquiring shelving, desks, chairs, tables accoutrements and lighting for the new library room. Project funds would be used primarily for book collection and shelving needs. Volunteers from Rotary clubs would be welcome to help clean, repair and label used and donated books during the Summer months, as well as participate in acquiring book donations if possible. We also may need help assembling shelves, painting or staining furnishings, shelving books and more.
Our mid-level goal of creating a courtyard would give the children a welcoming outdoor space to read and for the librarian and teachers to hold discussion groups/book club activities. Our vision of this courtyard would be something that Rotarian's and I.C.C.S. community members could work together to build. It would include brick pavers, benches, a ramada to help dissipate hot sun, and more. Rotary would be acknowledged with a sign or plaque in the courtyard space. This may take more than one year to complete, because the new library room/building are still in the design phase.
Our long-term goal is to have a separate building or room dedicated to the library only. With effort we hope to create a quiet, respectful and studious space where students from all walks of life can come to research, study and grow their imaginations and intellects.
Along with those goals we are looking for a part-time librarian to catalog, repair, acquire, shelve, teach the library curriculum, and circulate the book collection! We have a full agenda.
-We are working on expanding Immaculate Conception School's collection of books, especially in STEAM subjects. This process includes finding the books best suited for the school, acquiring finances to purchase them or finding willing donors, cataloging them (and repairing them if they are used books), shelving them, and circulating them to the students. Our ideal is to get the latest high-quality award-winning books to give ICCS students access to incredible educational resources.
-We are seeking volunteers willing to help donate time to help clean, repair and label used and donated books through the Summer months. Volunteers would need to take the online Safe Environment Training (SET).
-We will need to acquire more proper shelving and furniture for the library; including book shelves, desks, tables, chairs, signage, and lighting.
-We are also seeking technology for the students to use for research; including laptops and tablets for learning how to create apps. It is important for them to learn how to use technology to further their education. The student laptops will also be used for the book quizzes. Having up-to-date technology gives economically or socially disadvantaged students access to materials and resources they would not have otherwise.
-With the donations we've received so far, we have already acquired a library cataloging system of three computers using Alexandria software. We have also been expanding the book collection from only a few hundred books to well over two thousand and growing. The cataloging process has begun, and we hope to make good progress over the Summer. Volunteers are welcome! As soon as we possibly can, we will be seeking a part time librarian to help catalog, circulate, organize, shelve, mend books and manage the library functions. We are excited to contribute to the economy by adding a job position at the school.
There is a pressing need to organize the school library to take advantage of valuable resources at hand such as the need for cataloging and leveling/grading books and training a librarian and aides to help the teachers and students make maximum use of the library in pursuit of their graded classroom studies.
Our current budget:
For our immediate financial goal with this project, $2000. For our long-term goals, a sustainable amount annually of at least $25,000 to pay for the librarian position and continue to keep the book collection up-to-date.
About Anne Roberts:
Anne Roberts was a youth services librarian at the Cottonwood public library who had a huge heart for reading and children. She touched the hearts of many young learners. Prior to working at the public library, Anne worked at the Dr. Daniel Bright elementary school library. She had always dreamed of creating a functioning library for Immaculate Conception Catholic School and had laid out a plan to begin it before she passed away suddenly in late 2016 at the age of 47. Her son Daniel-Paul and her stepdaughter Kayley first attended school there. She helped to organize and add books to the tiny school collection. She had set her sights on writing a grant to get a basic library book collection for the new Immaculate Conception school library. She started looking for a possible freestanding building for the library, too. A wonderful dream for "Library Anne" as many people in Cottonwood called her. We are excited to be honoring her memory by continuing the process of creating the Anne C. Roberts Memorial Library.
Proposed Funding for this grant is coming from both the Rotary Club of Prescott-Sunup ($500) and the Rotary Club of Prescott ($500) = $1000 club contribution. We hope for a match from DDF of $1000 to meet the $2000 needed. See attached contact informati0n document for both clubs contacts.
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