Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant Funds Bring More Children’s and Youth Playaways to Tyson Library

by Posted in Audio Books, Books, Children, News Tagged , , ,

Versailles, IN – August 17, 2023 – The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded Tyson Library a $1,600 grant to support its youth literacy efforts. The funding is part of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s recent award of nearly $2.6 million across the country to support more than 300,000 students attending more than 600 schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations in the communities Dollar General calls home.

Tyson Library will use these grant funds to purchase more Children’s and Youth Playaways for our collection. Playaways are devices with pre-loaded audiobooks, which give the reader freedom to listen whenever and wherever they are. No internet connection or downloads are necessary to enjoy books with these devices.

“We are very grateful to Dollar General and their literacy grant that is allowing us to expand on the contemporary resources we can provide for our community,” said Aly Wright, Youth Programming Coordinator for Tyson Library. “Audiobooks are a great asset that we continue to add to our collection at Tyson Library. They are a great way to encourage a love of reading in our young patrons. It can be especially helpful for those who are not yet reading on their own or for those who may struggle to read due to a lack of focus or dyslexia.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs.

“We are proud to award these grants to literacy and education programs across the country and support their meaningful work of expanding children’s joy of reading and creating a foundation for future educational growth,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “We are excited to make a difference in thousands of students’ lives through these donations and look forward to making more positive impacts as we celebrate the Foundation’s 30th anniversary year.”

The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam. Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.

About Tyson Library
Tyson Library is located in Versailles, Indiana, and serves the residents of Johnson, Brown, Shelby and Otter Creek Townships in Ripley County, Indiana. The library opened in April 1942 is named for Versailles’s native son, businessman, and philanthropist – James Henry Tyson. Today, Tyson Library continues to serve its community with traditional and contemporary library resources. To learn more about Tyson Library, go to www.tysonlibrary.org.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $238 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 19.6 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides financial support to schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores and distribution centers. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or apply for a literacy grant, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

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2022 Racial Equity Collection Added to Tyson Library’s Collection

by Posted in Adult, Audio Books, Books, Children, Junior

We have a new book display in our Adult Section featuring the books we were able to purchase thanks to a $1,000 Advancing Racial Equity Collection Grant from Indiana Humanities.

This new collection features diverse characters and stories and were chosen from an approved list provided by Indiana Humanities. The materials on the approved list were selected because they “address race, systemic racism and/or the Black experience through a humanities lens,” according to the Indiana Humanities website.

Our director selected books for all ages to add to our collection, and we are so excited to share them with our local community!

Click here to learn more about the grant that helped us purchase this new collection!

Children’s Books:

Audio Books:

Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction:

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Books To Read With Kids Around Labor Day

by Posted in Books, Children

It’s almost time for Labor Day in the United States. That means it’s back to school for our students and teachers and, unfortunately, almost time for that last summer cookout. We’ve made a short list of books to read with your children to teach them about work and different jobs. All of the books on the list are part of our local collection at Tyson Library. If your family is interested in other books related to work and jobs, we’d be happy to help you find them during your next visit!

*Caption blurbs sourced from Goodreads*

Pig Pig Gets a Job by David M. McPhail

“Pig Pig thinks of all the jobs he could get, from cook to auto mechanic, and is enthusiastic about performing similar tasks for his family at home.”

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

“Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickety, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown’s problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes….”

Berenstain Bears and Mama’s New Job by Stan and Jan Berenstain

“When Mama turns her quilt-making hobby into a business, the Bear family worries that she won’t have time for them. But as everyone pitches in to help her, they realize that things aren’t so different after all—and they’re prouder of Mama than ever!”

Splat the Cat Gets a Job by Rob Scotton

“Splat is so excited to be the new newspaper cat! But getting up super early, keeping track of all those papers, and delivering to all those houses sure isn’t as easy as it looks. With help from Kitten, and some cool inventions, can Splat figure out how to toss papers like a pro?”

ASPCA Kids: Animals at Work by Liz Palika and Katherine A. Miller

“Animals work hard to make ourworld a better place Animals are so much more than companions–they make amazing contributions to the planet and to the human race. Here, you’ll learn about the dogs who are lending a paw to protect livestock, guide people who can’t see, pull sleds and wagons, and so much more. You’ll also get the scoop on the jobs other animals do, like horses who serve in the military and law enforcement, and even cats who control vermin and provide therapy to the sick and the elderly.”

Mail Carriers by Julie Murray

“Little readers will learn all about what mail carriers do, where they work, and why they are important in our communities. Very simple text combined with correlating and colorful images will both inform and strengthen reading skills.”

Ask us about the Community Helpers Series shelved in the Children’s Area to read more about other important jobs people do throughout every community.

Who Was Cesar Chavez? by Dana Meachen Rau

“When he was young, Cesar and his Mexican American family toiled in the fields as migrant farm workers. He knew all too well the hardships farm workers faced. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers’ struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. Along with Dolores Huerta, he cofounded the National Farmworkers Association. His dedication to his work earned him numerous friends and supporters, including Robert Kennedy and Jesse Jackson.”

Have you enjoyed any of these books with your child? Do you have any you’d recommend to help explore work and different jobs? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!