$10,000 Will Transform Library Space

Woodside High School was awarded a $10,000 grant from bestselling author James Patterson to transform the library into a “learning commons” by adding a makerspace focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math education). Educational makerspaces are learning centers with tools that students can utilize to create and build.

The “Woodside High School Library is transitioning from a traditional school library to the school library of the future…the very generous James Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club Grant will help us accomplish this by enabling us to purchase STEAM books and supplies to include robotics, coding and creating,” said Deborah McDonough, Woodside’s librarian, who submitted the grant application. Planning for the school’s makerspace is underway. A grand reveal is expected in the spring.

Woodside was selected from among thousands of grant applications and was awarded the top dollar amount available. The high school is among 452 schools to receive a grant.

James Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club announced in March 2016 that Patterson would donate $1.75 million to school libraries nationwide in the second installment of his School Library Campaign. Since the program’s launch in 2015, Patterson has personally donated $3.5 million to school libraries across the country. As part of its partnership with Patterson, Scholastic Reading Club is matching each dollar of Patterson’s donation with “bonus points” that teachers can use to acquire books and other educational materials.