The Treat Memorial Library, pictured here, was recently announced as one of 77 recipients of grant funding from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. The funding will support expanded programming and community resources. Submitted Photo

LIVERMORE FALLS — Treat Memorial Library has been awarded a grant from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation, part of a national initiative to support rural libraries. The funding, announced on GivingTuesday, will support the creation of a homeschooling Resource Center, addressing a growing demand for educational resources in the local homeschooling community.

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“This center will provide access to interactive tools, such as take-home activity kits and museum passes to facilitate hands-on learning experiences,” said Alana Knapp, assistant director of the library. “We will acquire a diverse array of homeschooling materials that present current information, including workbooks and digital resources, as well as a rejuvenation of the juvenile nonfiction collection with a specific focus on subjects that require specialized knowledge such as geography, history and science.”

The grant was provided through the Dorothy Louise Kyler Fund, established in honor of John Henry Eldred Jr.’s mother to assist rural libraries in improving children’s programming and circulation. Treat Memorial Library’s proposal emphasized the need for resources to support the town’s 34% increase in homeschooled students since 2020, as reported by the Maine Department of Education. The majority of students are between the ages of six and 13.

Knapp highlighted the library’s goals for the new center, stating, “We always aim to bridge resource gaps that many families in our area face. One of our goals is to support [but not duplicate] the Spruce Mountain Elementary and Middle school libraries, making our collection more relevant for today’s young students.”

The Homeschooling Resource Center will supply unique learning tools and foster educational experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. “This grant is a game-changer for families who want to explore learning in nontraditional ways,” Knapp said. “We are excited to offer these resources to enrich both individual learning and family activities.”

The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation awarded 77 grants to rural libraries across the United States this year, including 22 in Maine. The foundation’s mission is to support literacy, programming and access to educational materials, particularly in underserved areas. This year, special attention was given to 10 libraries in North Carolina and Georgia impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, ensuring those institutions could rebuild collections and serve as community hubs during recovery.

Knapp praised the foundation’s focus on rural libraries, noting the unique challenges they face. “For example, take a program like Free Comic Book Day, where organizers suggest partnering with a local comic book shop to provide free comic books for patrons,” she said. “The closest comic book shop to us is 50 miles away. So we are always having to improvise new ways to provide our patrons with exciting materials and programming.”

Knapp also reflected on the collaborative opportunities provided by The Maine School and Library Network, which includes many of the other 22 grant recipients. “The Maine library network provides many opportunities for connection,” she said. “Questions, ideas, problem-solving, and resource sharing are all part of the experience, and we’re very grateful to be a part of it.”

Treat Memorial Library’s broader mission aligns closely with the goals of the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. “To provide opportunity and encouragement for children, young people, men and women to educate themselves continuously. To serve the community as a center of reliable information,” Knapp said, quoting from the library’s mission statement. “To maintain this in a rural area, partnerships and funding like this are essential.”

While this is Treat Memorial Library’s first direct collaboration with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries [ARSL] in a decade, Knapp expressed interest in leveraging the group’s resources in the future. “ARSL provides many resources and education opportunities that we look forward to exploring,” she said.

The library does not currently plan to host an event commemorating the grant, but Knapp encouraged community members to participate in the programs it will fund. “We hope that our patrons will join us in participating in the programming and opportunities provided by the new funding,” she said. “We will be sharing and posting updates on our social media and in our newsletter, so folks can interact and follow along that way.”

Knapp sees the funding as a critical step in the library’s long-term vision. “Our long-term vision for Treat Memorial Library is a hub of information and enrichment, as outlined in our mission statement,” she said. “Developing the Homeschooling Resource Center is a continuation of our goal to provide reliable, relevant outreach to the citizens of Livermore Falls and to support their needs.”

Since 2012, the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation has awarded over $1 million to rural libraries, focusing on children’s and young adult collections, programming and access to technology. For more information, visit jhefoundation.org.