Rob-See-Co, an independent seed company located in Elkhorn, Neb. announced the inaugural recipients of the Agnes Robinson Rural Library Grant program.
The City of Sundown Library was the recipient of a $500 grant project called “Growing Good Sports,” and focuses on developing social-emotional awareness through books about sports and food. City of Sundown Library Director A’ndrea McAdams says they have recently begun to purchase children’s to add to their new shelves.
In the future, the goal for the Sundown Library is to lay the foundation for other seed-related, gardening programs in the future.
This program was established in recognition of the company’s 10th anniversary and Agnes Robinson’s hard work and devotion to the rural library in Waterloo, NE. Agnes was the grandmother of the current CEO, Rob Robinson.
“The response to this grant has been astounding and it was very difficult to select the grantees,” said Rob Robinson, Chief Executive Officer at Rob-See-Co. “We did not realize the extent to which so many rural libraries need funding. These grants represent our commitment to our dealers, growers, and communities while honoring my family and the history of Rob-See-Co. We were thrilled to establish this grant and are elated we can have an impact on these rural libraries.”
There were 570 applications received from rural libraries across the Rob-See-Co market area requesting a total of $825,754 for projects ranging from additional books and upgraded computers to renovations. A total of $10,000, in honor of the 10th anniversary, was awarded to 20 rural libraries in CO, IA, KS, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, TX, and WI. Checks are being delivered by Rob See-Co representatives during November and December.
Heather Garrison, Carbondale City Library Director, Carbondale, KS said, “Thank you so much for the opportunity! I am so excited to purchase books for our patrons with Dyslexia. I know a couple of kids in my story time group will benefit from these books, as well as their parents. After moving from a very small library to our new library, we are so grateful for the opportunity to add specific collection items to help members of our community. Without these types of grants, it would take us a very long time to accumulate these items individually.” The libraries receiving funding are: - Burlington Public Library, Burlington, CO; - Bayard Public Library, Bayard, IA; - Robert W. Barlow Memorial Library, Iowa Falls, IA; - Carbondale City Library, Carbondale, KS; - Scott County Library, Scott City, KS; - McBain Community Library, McBain, MI; - Pathfinder Community Library, Balwin, MI; - Lanesboro Public Library, Lanesboro, MN; - Plainview Public Library, Plainview, MN; - Carrington City Library, Carrington, ND; - Leach Public Library, Wahpeton, ND; - Gering Public Library, Gering, NE; - Schuyler Public Library, Schuyler, NE; - Newton Falls Public Library, Newton Falls, OH; - Worch Memorial Public Library, Versailles, OH; - A.H. Brown Public Library, Mobridge, SD; - Parker Public Library, Parker,
SD;
- City of Sundown Library, Sundown, TX;
- Edward U. Demmer Memorial Library, Three Lakes, WI; and - Lester Public Library, Vesper, WI.