$200,000 Grant to Expand Family Literacy and Indigenous Storytelling
Congratulations to the Joeten Kiyu Public Library who has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The funding will support JKPL’s Families Reading Together: Planning a Sustainable Family Literacy and Indigenous Storytelling Initiative. This planning project will help develop family literacy programs that support parents in fostering their children’s reading development at home while incorporating Chamorro and Carolinian storytelling traditions. The project will assess community literacy needs, strengthen partnerships, adapt curriculum, and design pilot after-school family reading clubs. It will also explore the development of locally produced children’s books that reflect our islands’ culture and heritage. I congratulate JKPL, Ms. Erlinda Naputi, and the entire library team on this $200,000 federal award. This investment will help build a sustainable, culturally responsive family literacy program that strengthens family engagement with reading and benefits communities throughout the Northern Mariana Islands.
