We the People: Bookshelf

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently announced that 4,000 public and school libraries will receive the We the People Bookshelf, a free collection of 17 classic hardcover books for young readers (K-12). The Bookshelf, now in its seventh year, encourages young people to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American history. Dodge City Public Library was one of the 4,000 libraries selected to receive this collection.

This year’s theme, “A More Perfect Union,” invites reflection on the idea of the United States as a “union” as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaches. The “more perfect union” envisioned by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution was torn asunder by the war between the North and South, which began in 1861.

In addition to the books for young readers, the “A More Perfect Union” Bookshelf features a DVD edition of The Civil War, the award-winning documentary by Ken Burns, including the rights to show the series to public audiences; the companion book to The Civil War series; and Declaring Independence: The Origin and Influence of America’s Founding Document, edited by Christian Y. Dupont.

The Bookshelf is headed to public and school libraries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Watch for information on an educational program at Dodge City Public Library to accompany the Bookshelf later in the year.

The Bookshelf program is part of the National Endowment for the Humanities' We the People program which supports projects that strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. The American Library Association assists with the administration of the grant.