Benton Middle School’s library collection is getting a modern refresh thanks to a $3,500 Youth Literacy Grant awarded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. BMS was one of only 28 organizations in Arkansas selected to receive grant funding from the foundation in this award cycle.
The grant proposal was created and submitted last school year by Chrystal Burkes, who served as the BMS librarian before taking on her current role as Library Media Specialist at Mountain View Middle School. Despite her move, Burkes remains dedicated to the students at Benton Middle.
"I still care about those kids and want them to love reading! I hope this grant provides them with new books to add to their collection," Burkes shared.
When Burkes first joined BMS in 2024, the library's collection carried an average publication year of 1994. Although initial weeding improved that average to 2010, many titles remained nearly 16 years old. The $3,500 award will directly fund the purchase of 150 to 200 new, library-bound books to revitalize the collection for the school's nearly 800 students.
The new acquisitions will specifically target under-resourced areas by expanding high-interest/low-readability (Hi-Lo) books, graphic novels, updated nonfiction, and Spanish-language titles. These additions aim to boost circulation, support English Language Learners and special education students, and encourage broader participation in the school's annual Reading Challenges.