New York City Public Schools Announce New VITAL Libraries Grant Recipients

New York City Public Schools today announced that Edward R. Reynolds West Side High School and P.S. 45Q The Clarence Witherspoon School were selected for the VITAL (Vital Instructional Transformative Accessible Learning) Libraries Grant with funding provided by the Edith & Frances Mulhall Achilles Memorial Fund. These two schools have been chosen from an impressive pool of 136 applicants to receive $50,000 each to transform their library programs and the formation of the Library Advisory Committees. In addition to the winners, two finalists will receive $1,000 each to support their existing library programs. 

The VITAL Libraries initiative aims to reimagine school libraries in high-need environments by enhancing their function, purpose, and overall potential. Each winning school will establish a Library Advisory Committee to develop a sustainable school library program that directly benefits and empowers their students. 

"Libraries are the foundation of learning, providing not only books but gateways to imagination and discovery," said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. "Through these Library Advisory Committees, we are centering students, ensuring our libraries evolve to meet their changing needs while equipping them with critical research and literacy skills for the future." 

“Reading fosters learning, growth, empathy, and understanding of the world, with school libraries serving as the key conduit,” said New York City Public Schools Director of Library Services Melissa Jacobs. “A library is vital in every school."  

The VITAL Libraries Grant is a collaborative effort between school leaders, librarians, and the NYCPS Office of Library Services to ensure that students in high-need environments have access to the resources necessary for academic success and personal growth. The selection process included in-person interviews with the finalists, who were evaluated on their vision, administrative support, current library development, and plans for using the grant funding. 

New York City Public Schools is expanding access to quality library services through innovative pathways. The Teacher-2-Librarian (T2L) program, a partnership with New Visions for Public Schools, Syracuse University, and St. John Fisher University, enables teachers to earn their NYS-certification as school library media specialists. This successful program has already produced 71 certified librarians, with the current cohort expected to bring the total to at least 100 new school librarians.  

NYCPS also provides access to theCitywide Digital Library on Sora, offering students and educators 24/7 availability to an extensive collection of eBooks, audiobooks, read-alongs, and magazines—all expertly curated by school librarians and subject matter specialists, ensuring diverse, high-quality content.