The Cumberland County Public Library has received grants totaling $12,000 to help with the Summer Reading Program and to upgrade sanitation and protection due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The library was awarded a $7,500 grant from the Cumberland Community Foundation Inc. The grant provided books and bags to children and teens in the Summertime Kids project. The final set of books was distributed Aug. 4. The project offers kids from preschool through high school the opportunity to interact with peers and develop new skills. Summer camps were held at Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville Urban Ministry, Inc. and the Salvation Army June through August.
“I’m glad that we were able to get books in the hands of some of our youngest users in spite of the pandemic,” Interim Library Director Cotina Jones said.
The Library also received a $4,500 grant for the purchase of gloves, disposable masks and hand sanitizing stations along with refills for all eight Cumberland County library branches. The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant was made possible by funding from the federal institute of Museum and Library Services and will be administered by the State Library of North Carolina.
The Cumberland County Public Library remains closed to the public. Curbside service is available and reading and activities for all ages can be accessed through the library’s website at cumberland.lib.nc.us and the library’s Facebook and Youtube pages. For more information, go to cumberland.lib.nc.us or call 910-483-7727.