The Greenville-Butler Co. Public Library has been awarded a $3,000 grant from the American Library Association (ALA) as part of the association’s “Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries” initiative.

The GBCPL will use funds from the grant to produce a one-shot magazine of stories, art, lyrics, and poetry focused on Butler County. The theme of the publication, though subject to change, is “The Pandemic & Us,” and the library’s goal is to acquire creative works from high school students throughout the county to include in the magazine.

“We know the pandemic has been an extremely difficult period for everyone, including our young people,” Library Director Kevin Pearcey said. “They’ve had their schedules upended at school, their graduations and proms altered or cancelled, and had to navigate a sudden virtual learning environment, many for the first time ever. Perhaps they’ve even had to watch as their loved ones have suffered or died due to COVID-19. We want to give them this opportunity to tell their stories, however they wish, by offering this keepsake publication that rewards their creativity.”

The library hopes to establish an editorial committee within the next few months, and is also crafting submission guidelines for the magazine, said Pearcey, which will involve payment to writers and artists. He said the goal is to have the magazine published by October.

Pearcey said there is the possibility the publication could opened to submission from non-students as well, depending on project expense. However, the initial focus is to acquire works from students.

“We want to work with our educators out there, especially English and art teachers, who I know will see this as an opportunity for their students to create works and be compensated for it,” Pearcey said.

Interested educators, or students, can follow the library’s Facebook page for the latest news and updates about the project, or contact Pearcey via email: library@greenville-bcpl.org, or phone: 382-3216.