Did Someone Say Free Money?

Thursday, April 22, 2010
By Ellen Hart

Yup, Sisters in Crime did. And not just any free money. I’m talking about the We Love Libraries Grant. Many of you already know about this program, but for those who don’t, this is the lowdown.

From January through December of 2010, Sisters in Crime will award a $1,000 grant. At the end of each month, a winner will be drawn from entries received at our website, http://www.sistersincrime.org. Only U.S. libraries may enter the drawing.

To enter, each library must complete the entry form and upload a photo of one or more of their library staff holding three books in their collection by Sisters in Crime authors. Libraries can find a list of our members by choosing the word Resources in the side menu on our web site, and then clicking on SinC Authors. (Click here for the link to the entry form.)

After the random drawing on the last business day of the month, the winning library will be contacted and announced. And then we’ll all pop corks to celebrate the winner! What’s not to celebrate about free money for books?

All branches within a larger system may enter. However, once a library in any given system wins, no other libraries within that system can win the grant. Those not successful in one month will automatically be entered for subsequent drawings. Grants must be used to purchase books and may not be used for general operating expenses. Book purchases are not restricted to the mystery genre, nor to those by Sisters in Crime members. All we ask is that we be allowed to post the winners photos on our website.

Where do individual members of sisters in crime come in? Most of us live in cities or towns with one or more libraries. Why not visit those libraries and give each one the message about the We Love Libraries Grants in person. You’ll not only look like a star, but you might get one of your books into the library photograph. To me, this is what Win/Win looks like!

Here are the winners so far.
January: Kingstowne Library in Alexandria, Virginia
February: Kraemer Family Library, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado
March: Pineville-Bell County Public Library in Pineville, Kentucky

In just a few days, our newest library winner will be announced, so stay tuned.

We all know that librarians rock. Without a vibrant, active library system in our communities, all of our lives would be greatly diminished. So lets get out there and spread the word. Sisters in Crime loves libraries!

Thanks for Mary Alice Gorman at Mystery Lovers Bookshop for sharing this information with local public libraries.