$35,000 for Books

The Literary Guild and the St. Simons Library have a partnership. The Guild manages the sale of donated books through the Resale Bookstore and seasonal book sales, staffed entirely by Guild volunteers. In return, the Library provides meeting space for Guild activities, including meetings, films, and author events.

Many thanks to the book donors, bookstore and book sale volunteers, and patrons for making this ongoing fundraiser possible!

St. Simons Island Library will use the funds to purchase new books and materials! 📚

St. SImons Library Grants 📚

The Literary Guild’s mission is to support cultural literacy, beginning with early reading and extending across literature, history, science, philosophy, and the traditions that shape how people understand the world.

Core initiatives such as the Take 5 early literacy program and the Summer Reading Program directly support children and families by strengthening reading habits, preventing learning loss, and fostering lifelong engagement with books and libraries.

In addition, the Guild funds programs—including jazz music, children’s theater, natural history lectures, and culturally rooted practices like tai chi and yoga—that expand learning beyond the page, invite curiosity, and bring people together around shared inquiry. These offerings reinforce the library’s role as a vibrant civic space for learning at every age.

Guild membership funds make these programs possible.

Recent grants are listed below:

  • The Take 5 Program (2024-2025 School Year). This initiative provides reading materials and helpful instructions to the parents of all pre-K children who attend St. Simons Elementary and Oglethorpe Elementary on St. Simons. The aim is to improve early reading skills through parent participation. $4,950

  • Summer Reading Program (Summer 2025) – Designed to prevent the summer learning slide, this program series encourages kids to read by participating in a reading challenge and attending interactive events at the St. Simons Island Library. $ 3,645

  • The Phil Morrison- Ken Trimmins Jazz Collective (February 19, 2025) – $3,300

    This dynamic group blends masterful musicianship with rich jazz traditions, creating an unforgettable performance every time they take the stage.

  • Charlotte’s Web – The Musical (February 28, 2025) $1,125

    The timeless magic of Charlotte’s Web is in this heartwarming musical, where friendship, courage, and a little web-spun wonder prove that anything is possible!

  • Weekly Community Yoga (January to April & September to December– 2025) $3,000

    Taught by a certified instructor, yoga introduces participants to a long-standing movement tradition rooted in history and philosophy, while promoting strength, flexibility, balance, and stress reduction through accessible practice.

  • Weekly Community Tai-Chi (January to April & September to December 2025)– $2,700

    Taught by a certified instructor, this Tai Chi class introduces participants to a centuries-old movement tradition, fostering cultural awareness while improving balance, flexibility, and reducing stress through gentle, low-impact practice.

  • Digital Materials Acquisition - (October 2025) - $1,130

    Funds used to purchase copies of high-demand eBook and Audiobook titles in the library’s Libby by Overdrive platform.

  • Gatorology – (January 13, 2026) – $300

    Designed for participants to better understand the American Alligator, a species often surrounded by misconceptions, by providing reliable information about its biology, behavior, and conservation.