Big News for Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) — they’ve been awarded a $350,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, one of the nation’s most respected philanthropic foundations.
GCPL is one of just 11 libraries nationwide chosen through the Libraries as Pillars of Education and Democracy initiative to expand adult literacy and college-readiness services. Here in Gwinnett, the funding will ramp up free English language classes in partnership with Gwinnett County Public Schools. In an era of budget cuts, this grant couldn’t come at a better time. “At a time where funding is being decreased in a lot of areas, to get this kind of a grant means everything to us,” says GCPL’s Duffie Dixon.
The library also plans to use the grant funds to recruit volunteers (background checks included), provide stipends for instructors, and offer bus passes to help students get to class. “Thanks to this generous award, we’ll be able to better support the English language learner needs of the Gwinnett community than ever before,” adds GCPL Executive Director Charles Pace…