Atglen Public Library (APL) was one of 13 libraries across Pennsylvania that were awarded a $5,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL).

The Excellent and Equitable Youth Services Local Library Grants are designed to help libraries serve their youngest patrons by purchasing fiction and nonfiction books for youths.

Robbyn Kehoe, director of APL, applied for the grant through the OCL. "The funds are to be spent on books for youth ages birth to 18," she said. "We will have these books on the shelf for next summer."

The grants, which are federally funded through the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by PDE, help libraries build inclusive collections for youths.

Kehoe noted that APL has also received other grants that will benefit library patrons.

State Sen. Katie Muth awarded a $150,000 grant to APL to purchase decodable books and to educate parents about the science of reading. "Decodable books help beginning readers learn to read by focusing on phonics as the primary skill to decode words," Kehoe explained. "Focusing on phonics, rather than guessing the words based on pictures, helps to produce stronger readers."

APL was one of 10 libraries in Muth's district to receive a grant to provide decodable books to community families. More than 440 decodable books are available at APL.

"All of the books may be borrowed for three weeks," Kehoe noted. "In addition, several handouts are available to help parents and caregivers learn about the science of reading. "

APL has also been selected to receive a Thinking Money for Kids program kit from the American Library Association (ALA) and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. The program kit is a collection of resources to help libraries teach financial education concepts to children ages 3 to 12, both in the library and in children's homes.

In the APL newsletter, Kehoe explained that the TM4K program kits consist of Playaway Launchpads for borrowing and financial games for children's programs. Launchpads are tablets that are preloaded with fun financial education games that parents will be able to borrow for three weeks. Launchpads are kid-friendly and do not require a home internet connection.

"Selected through a national application process, APL is one of 300 libraries to receive this unique offering," Kehoe stated. "TM4K Launchpads will be reservable throughout the Chester County Library System."

APL is located at 121 Main St., Atglen. For more information about the grants and programs, contact Kehoe at rkehoe@ccls.org. More information about library activities is available at http://www.atglenpubliclibrary.org and http://www.facebook.com/AtglenPublicLibrary.