Thousands of dollars in grant funding will help out the St. Joseph Public Library with its Summer Reading Program.

According to a news release, the library was awarded $11,550 in grant funding to support the 2017 summer reading program by the Offices of John R. Ashcroft, Secretary of State. With this funding, the library has purchased new materials for activities and will provide weekly entertainment programs throughout the 2017 “Build a Better World” summer reading program. The summer reading program runs May 30, 2017 to July 30, 2017 and will include a reading initiative, eight weekly performers, weekly story times and other library programming events.

The St. Joseph Public Library offers a summer reading program for all ages, from babies to adults. Much of the grant funding will be dedicated to support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming in the library this summer. Some of the supplies the library has purchased includes Snap Circuit kits, KEVA Planks, LEGOs, model-sized bridge building supplies, Makey Makey kits, and other STEAM-related materials to introduce children and teens to circuitry, electronics, design, construction, and more. These materials will also be housed at the East Hills Library’s Maker Space for use outside of the summer reading program. More details about the upcoming library events will be available on the library’s website (sjpl.lib.mo.us) in the coming weeks.  

The library said the grant is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.