PCLS Receives Book Awards

The Pasco County Library System has been the fortunate recipient of two great book collections.

The first one is the 2009 We the People “Picturing America” Bookshelf, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The We the People Bookshelf is a set of classic books for young readers from Kindergarten through high school. Each year NEH identifies a theme important to the nation's heritage and selects books that embody that theme. This collection of theme-related books is the Bookshelf. In addition to introducing young readers to good literature, the Bookshelf promotes understanding of abstract or general ideas through the power of particular stories. The theme for the Bookshelf is announced at the beginning of each academic year in September. The first six themes were “Courage,” “Freedom,” “Becoming American,” “Pursuit of Happiness,” “Created Equal,” and “Picturing America.” “Picturing America” programs are being conducted in libraries between May 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010. Find out more by clicking on the link below:

http://www.wethepeople.gov/bookshelf/PicturingAmerica.html

The second collection was awarded from the Nippon Foundation. The Nippon Foundation is an independent, non-profit, grant making organization that was founded in 1962. It supports projects both in Japan and overseas. It funds activities in three areas: domestic social welfare and volunteer support; maritime research and development; and overseas cooperative assistance. It works with other non-profit organizations, government, non-governmental organizations and international organizations. The Foundation created the 100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan as a means to facilitate other countries' understanding of the true face of modern day Japan. The Foundation produced a catalogue detailing 100 carefully selected books that provide information on contemporary Japan in the English language, and began donating these books to libraries that have an interest in Japan. Pasco was one of the lucky recipients. The collection will be housed at the Land O' Lakes library but will be available to all residents of the county.