Kansas First Lady Mary Brownback announced the winners of the 2013 Kansas Book Festival Grants during a news conference this week at the Statehouse in Topeka.

“The Kansas Book Festival works year round to promote literacy and encourage a life-long love of reading,” First Lady Brownback said.  “These grants will help preserve and improve local and school libraries across the state.”

The 16 public and school libraries will share in receiving a portion of the $12,555 in grants.

2013 Technology Grants

Rossville Community Library; Rossville; $1,050
Blue Rapids Public Library; Blue Rapids; $1,030
Lebo School Library; Waverly; $1,600
Payne Elementary School Library; Wichita; $1,200
Jackson Heights Middle/High School Library; Holton; $1,000
2013 Book Grants
Central Elementary Library; Goodland; $500
Lawrence Gardner High School Library; Topeka; $500
Garfield Early Childhood Library; Garden City; $500
Tipton Community Grade School Library; Tipton; $500
Grainfield City Library; Grainfield; $1,000
Florence Public Library; Florence; $400
Clifton-Clyde Grade School Library; Clifton; $500
Norcatur Public Library; Norcatur; $1,000
St. Joseph School Library; Ellinwood; $500
Washington High School Library; Kansas City; $1,000
Central Heights Elementary School Library; Richmond’; $275

“These grants will help libraries to purchase new technology like computers, iPads and eBooks as well as a wide range of reading materials for a wide range of reading levels,” Mrs. Brownback said.

Kansas Book Festival Fund is a 501c3 organization through the Topeka Community Foundation. The grants themselves are funded through corporate sponsors and monies raised at the annual book festival.