YELL BRINGS GRANTS TO LIBRARY

Last year's YELL publication brought about two grants to the Cape Girardeau Public Library: one promoting literacy to youngsters and the other aiding people wanting to take the GED (General Educational Development) test.

Library officials said without the $2,500 in grant money, several new books couldn't have been purchased.

YELL generated a $2,000 grant for youth services at the library. Librarian Elizabeth Ader said that money was used to provide publications for the RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) program. She said 856 books were given free to 439 children in fifth grade and older who read a certain number of books this summer.

"We gave them the books because we want to keep them reading throughout their student life," Ader said. "

The give-away books and dozens of other books that were placed on the library shelves to be awarded next summer were purchased with the grant money, Ader said. She said the program has pleased the library and children.

"They earned those books by reading," she said, "and they were able to choose the books they wanted from a variety of titles."

RIF was conducted this summer at the library on North Clark, the Rainbow Center on South Ellis and the Cape Girardeau Civic Center.

The library received a $500 grant to increase the number of publications available to help people pass their GED exam. Betty Martin of the library said sets of books addressing study techniques and preparation for the GED test were purchased with the money.

Often, people wanting to take the test aren't able to take a preparatory class. "They can come in here and check out the books just like any other books," Martin said.

The books were available in January. Martin said several people already have taken advantage of the publications.