James Patterson raised his 2015 school library donation to $1.75m, helping 467 US libraries (Image Credit: ALA)
A flood of requests from schools revealed how badly many libraries needed support, prompting bestselling author James Patterson to increase a donation he had originally planned at $1.25 million. In March 2015, Patterson announced the pledge in partnership with Scholastic Reading Club to help US school libraries buy books and improve their resources. According to the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), the overwhelming response led him to raise the total to $1.75 million, with 467 school libraries eventually receiving grants. The funding could support books, reading programmes, technology and repairs, addressing practical needs that affect how children access reading and learning resources.
A pledge to help school libraries
Patterson announced the initiative on March 9, 2015, working with Scholastic Reading Club to distribute grants to schools across the United States. The programme was designed to make funding accessible to school libraries, with individual grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The author said he was concerned that fewer children were growing up in homes filled with books. He believed access to books and functioning school libraries could influence children's education and encourage a lasting interest in reading. Scholastic Reading Club helped administer applications through its network of schools and teachers. It also offered recipients additional purchasing support through its Bonus Points programme, which teachers could use to obtain books and classroom materials. The partnership connected Patterson's personal donation with an established education network, allowing the money to reach schools that needed help with their library resources.
Why the donation increased
The response to the announcement was far greater than anticipated. Within two weeks, Patterson and Scholastic had received more than 8,500 applications, according to a March 23, 2015, Scholastic announcement. The volume of requests prompted Patterson to add $250,000 to his original pledge, taking the total to $1.5 million. Demand continued to grow. By June 2015, the partners had received more than 28,000 applications. Patterson then announced another $250,000 increase, bringing the donation to $1.75 million. The requests highlighted a range of problems facing school libraries. Schools sought money for new books, shelving, classroom materials and repairs, including damage caused by flooding. Others needed resources to improve the spaces in which students read and studied. The response also gave Patterson and Scholastic an opportunity to draw attention to the challenges schools faced in maintaining well-stocked libraries. The programme was intended not only to distribute grants but also to highlight the importance of access to books and reading resources.
How 467 school libraries benefited
The grants were distributed in stages during 2015. In June, Patterson and Scholastic announced the first round of awards, distributing $500,000 among 127 schools. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, while the remaining funds were scheduled for distribution later in the year. The American Association of School Librarians reported in March 2016 that 467 school libraries had received funding through the programme. According to the organisation, the grants supported books, reading programmes, technology and repairs. These areas of spending addressed different needs. New books could expand the material available to students, while reading programmes could help schools encourage children to develop stronger reading habits. Technology could improve access to educational resources, and repairs could help keep library spaces usable. For schools working with limited resources, even a relatively small grant could address a specific need. The programme allowed libraries to identify their priorities and request funding accordingly, rather than requiring every recipient to spend the money in the same way.
Recognition for a wider literacy effort
Patterson's support for school libraries was part of a broader effort to encourage reading among children. In March 2016, the AASL selected him as the recipient of its Crystal Apple award, recognising his contribution to school library programmes and students. The organisation noted his financial support as well as his advocacy for librarians and reading. Patterson said his aim was to make books available to children in every neighbourhood and encourage them to become lifelong readers. His partnership with Scholastic also continued beyond the original campaign. In November 2016, the two announced another $1.75 million in school library grants, this time supporting 452 schools. Patterson subsequently extended his education and literacy initiatives to classroom libraries and other programmes. The 2015 pledge demonstrated how a donation can grow when the demand for support becomes clear. What began as a $1.25 million commitment became a $1.75 million programme that helped hundreds of school libraries address their needs, while bringing wider attention to the role libraries play in children's education.
