The Cardington-Lincoln Public Library has been selected as one of only 20 participants nationwide for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant funded project, Future Ready with the Library.

The selection is made by The Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) in partnership with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL)

The grant application was written by Katie Porteus, Cardington-Lincoln School District librarian and Lisa Murray, director of the Cardington-Lincoln Public Library.

Future Ready with the Library is a project that is looking to form partner- ships between libraries and community partners. The focus of the project is to develop college and career readiness services for the middle school students in their area that can be replicated in other communities nationwide.

“I am excited for this opportunity to create a new program and to partner with the Cardington-Lincoln School,” said Hillary Scholz, Youth Services Librarian. “I think it’s a great way to get younger, middle grade students in the mind set of future schooling and learning opportunities.”

Scholz, along with the 19 other members selected, will participate in a two-day orientation at ALA’s 2017 Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, GA Jan. 19-20, 2017 and take part in online classes through the balance of the year.

The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face and in putting all teens, especially those with the greatest needs, on the path to successful and fulfilling lives.

“We want to make sue they have the tools and resources to be able to accomplish their goals,” said Scholz.”

By Evelyn Long

The Sentinel

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