The Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Rural Ontario Children

Sarah Rosalind Badgley

The Rural Learning Association (RLA)

is in the midst of a transformation

that includes changes to the Sarah Badgley Fund.

There will be no grants in 2009 but we plan to resume in 2010.

For more information contact rla@rurallearning.ca

SBF grant recipients.

The Amount and Purpose of the Fund

A grant of up to $500 per year is available to Ontario rural public libraries, and to urban public libraries that serve a rural clientele. The grant can be used for a variety of purposes in aid of children’s literacy initiatives, including, but not restricted to, • Book Purchases, • Literacy Programs (story hours, guest readers, etc.) • Equipment Purchases (furniture, bookshelves, computer software, etc.)  • Renovations to Children’s Areas in the Library, and • Seed Money to Obtain Matching Grants.

Sarah Rosalind Badgley

Sarah never learned to read, but she adored books. In July 2001, at the age of three, she was killed in an auto accident. Her parents, Susan and Kerry Badgley of Kemptville, Ontario, initiated the fund through the RLA.

How to Apply

April 15:  Submit Letter of Intent to RLA

Letter of Intent (1 page maximum) should include the library’s full name, address, email, brief description of its role in the community, and what the grant will be used for.

May 15: Applicants are advised of results & full proposals invited from selected libraries.

June 15: Full proposals due (instructions on what to include will be provided).

July 30: Applicants will be notified of the results.

Mail proposals to:

The Rural Learning Association

P.O. Box 1588

Guelph, Ontario

N1H 6R7

The Rural Learning Association

A non-profit general rural organization that promotes and conducts informal education activities, the RLA was established in 1965 and has the following objectives:

a) Improve the quality of rural life by emphasizing family, community, and environmentally responsible values.

b) Create learning opportunities by helping rural residents to rediscover the nature of rural community life, to identify local needs, and to find effective means of actions to meet those needs.

c) Foster the organization of forums and seminars for the study and advocacy of policies designed to strengthen the self-determining and self-managing capacities of rural communities.

d) Connect groups and organizations with rural clientele so that they can focus on rural issues through research, discussion and action

Rural Libraries

As community focal points, rural libraries perform a variety of functions. In addition to offering access to a wide range of reading material, they provide Internet access, make available audio-visual materials, provide local historical and genealogical services, offer children’s programs, and provide services to tourists. In doing all of this, rural libraries serve as community gathering spots that allows residents to meet and exchange ideas. In short, despite shrinking resources, rural libraries perform vital social functions. One goal of the Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Rural Ontario Children is to enhance awareness of the valuable public service that rural libraries perform.

If you wish to donate to the Sarah Badgley fund to help us continue supporting rural library services, please use this form and mail to the RLA.

The Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Rural Ontario Children

c/o The Rural Learning Association

P.O. Box 1588

Guelph, Ontario N1H 6R7

For additional information email: rla@rurallearning.ca