The We the People Bookshelf is a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ We the People program, conducted in cooperation with the ALA’s Public Programs Office. Each year, NEH identifies a theme important to the nation’s heritage and selects books that embody that theme to build the We the People Bookshelf. The theme for the 2009-2010 Bookshelf is “A More Perfect Union”.
This year’s Bookshelf is a collection of seventeen hardcover books for grades K through 12 and three bonus items: the complete DVD edition of The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns (including performance rights); the companion book to the Ken Burns film; and Declaring Independence: The Origin and Influence of America’s Founding Document. Participating libraries are required to add these items to their permanent collection, and to plan programs that introduce the theme to their patrons and community. Libraries will receive promotional materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks, and posters.
Online applications for this popular program will be accepted through January 29th, 2010. Go to publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf for an application and detailed program guidelines. A total of 4,000 public and school libraries will be selected to receive this year’s Bookshelf. Awards will be announced in April 2010.
Last year, over seven hundred libraries in Kansas received We the People poster collections called Picturing America. Public libraries in Basehor, Oskaloosa, Overbrook, Richmond, Sabetha, Silver lake, Williamsburg, and Winchester as well as hundreds of NEKLS school libraries applied for and received the award. Don’t miss this year’s opportunity to bring quality materials and programming to your library.
Teri Nelson is the Staff Assistant at NEKLS. You can reach her by email (tnelson (at) nekls.org), phone, or on the Google Chat instant messaging platform (look Teri up by her email address). Visit the 
