As a result of a collaborative effort among the Idaho Library Association, First Lady Lori Otter, the Idaho Community Foundation and the ICFL, the Wal-Mart Foundation has provided $98,000 in one-time funds to support "Strengthening Library Services for Youth in Idaho."

The Commission distributed the funds through a competitive mini-grant process open to all Idaho publicly-funded public libraries. “Strengthening Library Services for Youth in Idaho” was designed to encourage creative thinking and new approaches in order to provide innovative services and help libraries reach more youth from birth to age 18 and their families. Grant awards ranged from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. The Commission received 53 grant applications and awarded 14 grants.

More information about the 14 grant projects and the award process can be found here.

Below are descriptions of the final grant projects.

• Malad Teens Benefit from Grant
• Boise LEP Community Get Bilingual Storytimes through Grant
• Grandview Children Get Weekly Programs through Grant
• Garden City Public Library Creates Cognitive Development Kits with Wal-Mart Grant
• Lewiston Teen Center Created Thanks to Wal-Mart Grant
• Wii Reads at Kuna Library Thanks to Wal-Mart Grant
• Nampa Public Library's "Super Saturdays" Expand Thanks to Wal-Mart Grant
• Cambridge Free District Library Creates Teen Area Thanks to Wal-Mart Grant
• Boundary County Teens Hone Writing Skills Thanks to Wal-Mart Grant
• Ada Community Library Gains Learning Resources Thanks to Wal-Mart Grant
• Burley Teens get Gaming Program Thanks to Wal-Mart Grant
• Coeur d'Alene Teens Benefit from Wal-Mart Grant
• Post Falls Puppet Program Extends Outreach Thanks to Wal-Mart
• Wal-Mart Makes East Bonner's Juvenile Detention Partnership Possible