Library to add books for kids facing trauma
Staff writer
Peabody Township Library was given a $750 grant to build its collection of books intended to help children from impoverished or dysfunctional homes deal with trauma.
The grant is from the Kansas Book Festival, which annually gives $10,000 to libraries across the state. The grants can be used to expand book collections or technology.
Library director Rodger Charles is collaborating with counselors and teachers so they have timely access to resources for children who are at risk.
“I talked to pediatric mental health groups on books they recommend,” Charles said. “There are a lot of books.”
Charles said he found books about children dealing with death, dealing with poverty, how to deal with other kids with disabilities, how to deal with having a parent who suffers from mental illness, and many more topics that would help Peabody kids.
“There are all those books out there — just hundreds and hundreds of them,” he said.
He’d wanted to add helpful books to the library’s collection for a while, and thought the grant would be a way to get started.
“We are so grateful for this jumpstart for us,” Charles said.