Competition To Award K-12 Libraries for Driving Information Literacy
Follett Corp. is launching a $100,000 competition for school libraries that are helping to drive student achievement and boosting information literacy through technology.
The competition, called the Follett Challenge, will award six K-12 libraries for programs in which librarians are "actively championing an information literacy-based school program for students" and in which technology and digital content are used to improve student engagement.
Participants will submit three- to five-minute videos describing their libraries' information literacy programs and will also explain how those programs could be expanded beyond their own schools.
SIx awards will be granted, including a grand prize of $35,000 in Follett products. Five of the awards will be selected by a panel of judges made up of education professionals from inside and outside the library. A sixth $10,000 prize will be awarded based on popular vote.
Follett said the competition is part of an effort to raise the profile of school libraries and showcase their importance in education, even at a time when library resources are diminishing.
"A library's ability to improve student performance depends in large part on the resources made available to them," said Follett CEO and President Chuck Follett in a prepared statement. "Through this Challenge, we're committed to drawing attention to the undeniable connection between well run libraries and student performance to ensure that one of our most important educational resources receives the attention and funding it deserves."
Registration for the Follett Challenge will be open Feb. 1 through June 1. Judging will commence in June. Further information is available here.