The American Library Association's (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO) is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the fifth We the People Bookshelf project. Part of the NEH's We the People initiative, the Bookshelf is a grant program created to encourage young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history.

This year's theme is Created Equal. Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply online from September 10, 2007 through January 25, 2008 at http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf. In spring 2008, NEH and ALA will select 3,000 libraries to receive the Created Equal Bookshelf. Those selected will be required to use the Bookshelf selections in programs for
young readers in their communities.

Successful applicants will receive the We the People Bookshelf, a collection of 17 classic hardcover books for young readers, all conveying the Created Equal theme. For a list of titles, see the link above. Several selections focus on the life and writings of Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th birthday will be celebrated during the 2008 - 2009 programming period. In addition, winning libraries will receive four of these books in Spanish translation, and a
bonus educational kit entitled History in a Box on Abraham Lincoln. This
kit, developed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, contains a resource book (print and CD formats), DVDs, interactive CD-ROM and posters, featuring primary source documents, photographs, artwork, maps, songs and other teaching resources. Successful applicants will also receive accompanying materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks and posters.

The Created Equal Bookshelf titles, online application and guidelines will be available from September 10, 2007 to January 25, 2008 at the link above. A single application may be submitted on behalf of multiple libraries within a library system, school district or community. Individual branch and school libraries are also encouraged to apply. To review a list of programming ideas while planning
an application, or to see information on past Bookshelf themes, please visit the link above.

The Bookshelf grants are part of the NEH's We the People initiative, which aims to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture through libraries, schools, colleges,
universities and cultural institutions. NEH plans to issue a We the People Bookshelf each year on themes related to ideas and ideals unique to America. Since 2003, ALA and NEH have awarded 6,000 We the People Bookshelves to
public and school libraries.

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ALA Public Programs Office
http://www.ala.org/publicprograms
publicprograms "at" ala.org
800-545-2433, extension 5045