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Literacy: The Library Is Looking for a Few Good Organizations

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This is a guest post by Guy Lamolinara, communications officer in the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.

Do you work in the field of literacy or know someone who does? Then you may want to consider applying for a Library of Congress Literacy Award.

Applications will be accepted from organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the United States or abroad. You may apply on behalf of your own organization or for another organization. Three prizes will be given in 2018:

The David M. Rubenstein Prize ($150,000) is awarded for an outstanding and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels to an organization based either inside or outside the United States that has demonstrated exceptional and sustained depth in its commitment to the advancement of literacy.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden (left) and David M. Rubenstein present the 2017 American Prize to Sharon Darling of the National Center for Families Learning of Louisville, Kentucky. Photo by Shawn Miller.

The American Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels or the national awareness of the importance of literacy to an organization that is based in the United States.

The International Prize ($50,000) is awarded for a significant and measurable contribution to increasing literacy levels to an organization that is based outside the United States.

Other organizations will be honored for their “best practices” in various areas of literacy promotion.

The application rules and a downloadable application form can be accessed at read.gov/literacyawards.

Applications must be received no later than midnight on April 30, 2018, Eastern Time.

The application process is very simple, and taking the time to enter could reap large rewards.

The Literacy Awards are made possible through the generosity of David M. Rubenstein.

The Center for the Book at the Library of Congress administers the Literacy Awards program. The Librarian of Congress will make the final selection of the award winners with recommendations from literacy experts on an advisory board.

More information about last year’s winners and other literacy leaders is available in “Library of Congress Literacy Awards.”

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