Awarding grants is an important part of the mission of NEKLS to inspire and empower member libraries to add value to our communities through engagement and education. We’re delighted to have awarded nearly $20,000 in competitive grants to libraries in the northeast Kansas region for literacy initiatives in 2023. The Ottawa Library received a grant to help fund expenses for the 2024 Franklin County Children’s Literature Festival. The festival is a 22-year-old tradition in Franklin County and promotes the love of reading for more than 1,600 children, teachers, and presenters—kindergarten through fifth grade.
The Ottawa Library partners with other Franklin County libraries, including the Williamsburg Library and the Pomona Library, to offer children a day of fun and learning with presentations from authors, storytellers, and musicians. The day before the festival there is a special presentation for the “Littles” in kindergarten through second grade, featuring a popular puppeteer. The older children attend four sessions offered by eight talented authors, storytellers, and illustrators, and hear not only about their books but also about the creative process and building a career in this field. The festival also collaborates with Ottawa University, which hosts the event on its campus, and the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium, which hosted the Littles event. The Friends of the Ottawa Library and 40 sponsors also support the literacy festival.
Nathaniel Wadkins and author, Mary Casanova
The literacy grant received from NEKLS helps to fund the authors’ fees and travel expenses, allowing the festival to showcase top children’s authors from across the country.
“The Franklin County Children’s Literature Festival is a magical day of witnessing students’ imaginations and love of reading come to life as they listen to and interact with the presenters. Some students have told us they came away from the festival with the writing bug,” said Terry Chartier, Executive Director of the Ottawa Library.