Library Foundation will also host writing seminars for young authors
The Library Foundation of Southlake (LFOS) is excited to bring New York Times middle-grades author James Ponti to the Southlake Public Library on July 10, 2024. The Edgar-award winning author for this “Framed” series as well as popular “City Spies” collection will speak to attendees on July 10 and hold two hour-long writing workshops with students. The visit is being brought to you by the Southlake Public Library and the generous sponsors and donors of the LFOS.
To help young readers get excited for Ponti’s visit, LFOS has created a game inviting readers to join the “Southlake City Spies” team. Visit the Southlake Public Library before July 10 to receive instructions on how to join the team.
“Young readers love James Ponti’s books about an unlikely squad of kids who travel the world as part of an elite spy squad,” said Lori Burr, president of the Library Foundation of Southlake. “As an author, Ponti talks about how he loved writing as a child, but never felt like he was a strong reader so he intentionally started writing books where he felt readers could really immerse themselves into the story. We’re so excited that he’s coming to Southlake, and that he’ll be giving our young writers a chance to learn from a master storyteller.”
In addition to the writing seminars offered by Ponti, LFOS is sponsoring a two-week writing camp this summer for students ages 8 to 14 in June. The camp is designed to introduce budding authors to different creative writing styles and allow them an opportunity to write and receive feedback. At the end of the session, their work will be published in a junior literary magazine available at the library.
“This is our first year to host a writing camp, and we are delighted that it filled up so quickly,” said Burr. “We’re going to monitor the program closely to see how we can improve upon it in future years.”
This is LFOS’s third major initiative. An earlier fundraiser led to the donation of two AWE Children’s Learning Stations to the library. Valued at about $11,000, these Early Literacy Stations deliver award-winning content through a safe environment to help prepare students for school readiness. In winter 2023, LFOS hosted a reading challenge called “Funopoly” that helped motivate young readers with games and prizes throughout the holiday break season.
The Library Foundation of Southlake is a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to the support and success of the Southlake Public Library through advocacy, fundraising, and engagement that delights and benefits the community. The efforts of the LFOS are guided by an extensive library survey conducted in 2021, feedback generated through community discussions, and the expert guidance of the dedicated library staff.
Donations to the LFOS are tax deductible. Anyone donating $100 or more will be listed on the LFOS website. Individuals donating $500 or more will receive a yard sign in recognition of being a Champion of the Library Foundation of Southlake. Donations of $1,000 or more will also receive a tote bag. LFOS also raises money for programs by selling t-shirts at its non-profit store.
To donate, visit https://libraryfs.org/donate/. Visit www.libraryfs.org for more information on LFOS. LFOS is also actively looking for individuals to get involved with its efforts. To participate, submit a volunteer leadership interest form. Together, we can write the next chapter of the Southlake Public Library.
