WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help more Woonsocket students develop their reading skills, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education will award the Woonsocket Department of Education $217,606 through its Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grant program. Reed was instrumental in creating the federal grant program that helps students improve their literacy by providing school libraries with up-to-date equipment and materials as well as qualified library media specialists.

"Access to quality libraries is an essential part of helping children develop their reading skills and succeed in the classroom," stated Reed, a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Grant Program is one of the most important programs that we have to develop children's reading skills by providing up-to-date equipment and materials and well-trained staff. This federal funding will go a long way to help Woonsocket provide the best tools available to help its students succeed."

The Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grant program allows school districts to purchase up-to-date library media resources such as books and advanced technological equipment. It also helps school districts provide professional development for school library media specialists including increased collaboration among library specialists, teachers, and administrators, and provides students with access to school libraries during non-school hours, weekends, and summer vacations.

In June, Reed introduced the Strengthening Kids' Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act to reauthorize and strengthen the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program.