Grants are available to purchase e-readers
E-readers are portable electronic devises specifically designed to hold books and periodicals in digital formats. Several versions, holding several works of literature at a time, are available. They have become popular with a wide range of ages. Many schools and libraries make e-readers available to their patrons to keep up with user needs and modern technology. Grants are available for institutions looking to purchase e-readers.
Community Foundations
Organizations dedicated to the advancement of a specific geographic location, such as a city or town, often provide funding for initiatives that benefit local residents. The Akron Community Foundation provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Akron, Ohio area. The foundation oversees more than 350 different funds, which usually make annual grant awards. The Carl E. Snyder Innovation Fund, managed by the Akron Community Foundation, awards financing to programs that help children with difficulties in reading and mathematics. In 2011, Streetsboro High School Library purchased Kindle e-readers with a $5,000 award from the fund.
School Foundations
Organizations dedicated to improving and enhancing schools can be a funding source for school libraries looking to purchase e-readers. For example, in Rockwood, Missouri, the Rockwood Schools Foundation is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) that works in tandem with the Rockwood public school system. Foundation grants are awarded to programs that are cutting edge and can be replicated in schools throughout the district. For the 2010-2011 grant cycle, four schools in the district received grants to purchase e-readers to advance literacy and technology.
Private Donations
Many individuals look for opportunities to give back to their communities. Libraries are often the beneficiaries of such contributions. Soliciting funds or product donations is another method for acquiring e-readers for libraries. For example, in Santa Clara, California, an anonymous donor provided the financing for the purchase of eleven e-readers for local libraries.
Library Grants
Some libraries are able to award grants that can benefit other community members. This helps foster partnerships and allows organizations to work in unison to provide the best services possible for their patrons. Ocean City High School in Ocean City, New Jersey, is the recipient of an outreach funding grant from the Ocean City Free Public Library to buy e-readers. Through this purchase, students and teachers can also download e-books through the public library.
