Q: How did you apply for the grant?
Librarian Kristan Bowlin: This was a PTO grant, so they sent out emails asking for applicants. And so it was just a matter of deciding what we needed, and then filling out the application.
Q: What did you get a grant for?
Librarian Jessica Jurkovac: I applied for a grant to get new high interest books for the library for students to check out.
Bowlin: We got a grant to fund new multimedia equipment in the library like new green screens, new tripods and things like that.
Q: How often do teachers get rewarded with grants?
Jurkovac: There are a few different grant opportunities throughout the year and PTO sends out grants once a year, usually in the fall. And so I try to apply for one every year.
Q: What are you planning on doing with the money?
Jurkovac: For this specific grant, we are going to purchase high interest books and also books that we know specific ELA classes need. For example, we have one ELA class that does a biography unit every year, and so we wanted to get some more high interest biography books.
Q: Are there specific books/media equipment that you are going to get?
Bowlin: We already bought the multimedia equipment and we bought a ring light, we bought tripods that would hold phones and iPads, green screens.
Q: How will this improve the quality of the library?
Bowlin: This is going to replace some broken equipment that we have. We received a grant that funded similar things a few years ago, and just with constant use, things break, or just get worn out, so this will allow us to have new, better equipment for students to be able to continue making all of their videos.
Q: What are your goals for the library next year?
Jurkovac: Always, our top goal is to be a safe space for students and staff alike, and then to continue collaborating with teachers, getting classes in here to work on different research and literacy skills.
