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Union County Announces 2018 Library Grants

 

The City of Elizabeth is one of 20 Union County municipalities receiving a grant from the Freeholder Board’s 2018 Library Grants program. All 20 municipalities with public libraries received a grant, which covers events, books, materials, equipment, activities and other upgrades in support of children’s programming. Photo credit: Jim Lowney/County of Union.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the 2018 Union County Library Grant awards for 20 public, municipal libraries in Union County. The grants are designed to assist public libraries with funding that enriches and supports children’s programming.

“Our community is stronger when we all work together to provide every child with opportunities to learn and grow,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “Public libraries exemplify this community spirit, and the Freeholder Board is proud to help strengthen local library services in our municipalities.”

“The Library Grant program helps to ensure that public libraries in Union County have the resources to foster a contemporary learning environment for the next generation. Up-to-date programming and equipment is especially important in terms of helping children to prepare for careers in STEM and related fields,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who initiated the grant program in 2016.

The 2018 Library Grants are funded by non-tax dollars through the Union County Kids Recreation Trust Fund.

“Hands-on learning through individual and group activities is the foundational experience that libraries provide, and they are an essential part of the recreational resources for children in Union County,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, Chairman of the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic reservation Trust Fund. 

Each of the 20 municipalities with a public library applied for a 2018 Library Grant and received an award of $3,750.00. Those are: Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union and Westfield.

This year’s awards will cover the cost of children’s programming including Mad Science and other STEM topics as well as arts enrichment, new books and computer equipment, games and activities, SAT prep and more.

The Library Grants Program supports the goals of Chairman Granados’s 2018 Moving Union County Forward “Plant a Seed” initiative to encourage lifelong learning, individual empowerment and giving back to the community.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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