December 9, 2020
Stephanie Miller-Davis Summer Reading Library Grant Awardees: 2020
April 8, 2020
Grant Ceremony Update
For the safety of our communities during COVID-19, we have decided to cancel the Stephanie Miller-Davis Grant Award Ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, May 5.
We regret that we cannot recognize your library's achievement in person. However, we look forward to your reports this fall on how you were able to creatively enrich summer reading and library programming for children in your community despite the challenges of social distancing. Please feel the freedom to adjust the use of funds towards this end.
Best Wishes,
The Family of Stephanie Miller-Davis
April 8, 2020
Stephanie Miller-Davis Library Summer Reading Grant Program
The Stephanie Miller-Davis Library Summer Reading Grant Program has continued its second year supporting summer reading programs in small rural communities in partnership with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) and the South Dakota State Library (SDSL). The program has distributed grants of $1,000 to 26 libraries in rural communities across South Dakota.
Stephanie loved books and created her legacy by donating children's books and bookcases to the school library in her hometown of Murdo, SD. She wanted to provide the children in the community the books she longed to read as a child growing up on the South Dakota prairie.
"My mother's legacy will go on through this exciting grant program," said daughter Anne Franz. "If my mom was here today, I think she would be proud that we are continuing to support the heroic work of parents, teachers, librarians and other community members to provide every child the chance to read even through the challenges of any social distancing necessary this summer."
"We are so thankful for the vision of the Miller-Davis family to serve the literacy needs of kids in small towns and rural areas across South Dakota. These rural public libraries struggle to keep their doors open." said Daria Bossman, South Dakota State Librarian. "Having a quality summer reading program with new books is such a treasure."
"The South Dakota Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Stephanie Miller-Davis family as they perpetuate their mother's passion and investment in early childhood literacy across South Dakota," said Beth Massa, SDCF Regional Director for Foundation Relations. "I think Stephanie would be very proud to see her husband and daughters continuing her investment in children."
Each of the following libraries were awarded $1000 to support their summer reading programs:
- Alcester Public Library
- Armour-Carnegie Public Library
- Britton Public Library
- Centerville Community Library
- Clear Lake City Library
- Emil M. Larson Library
- Grant County Public Library
- Freeman Public Library
- Haakon County Public Library
- Hot Springs Public Library
- Hurley Public Library
- Hyde County Library
- Lennox Community Library
- Langford Public Library
- Lemmon Public Library
- Northwest Regional Library
- Parker Public Library
- Parkston Public Library
- Potter County Free Library
- Redfield Carnegie Library
- Scotland Community Library
- Tripp County Library
- Waubay Public Library
- Webster Public Library
- Wilmot Public Library
- Woonsocket Community Library
January 2020
COVID-19 UPDATES
The grant is deferred until 2021 when in-person trainings will be held.
Submitted applications will be kept on file and reopened for next spring. Applications can be edited or withdrawn at that time.
Stephanie Miller-Davis Library Training Travel Grant
Applications are due Friday, March 13, 2020 for the Huron or Philip training sessions of the Transforming Library Services: Early Childhood Through Teens.
What: Library Training Travel Grant helps support libraries sending a staff person or persons to Transforming Library Services for Early Childhood Through Teens training. Funds can be used to cover mileage, food, motel and a substitute librarian. Funding is made possible from the Stephanie Miller-Davis Charitable Fund, a private donor advised fund from a SD family, in collaboration with the SD State Library and South Dakota Community Foundation.
Awards:
- Up to 45 awards of $250 grants
- One grant will be awarded for $1000
Eligibility: Must be a legal South Dakota public library and in good standing with the state law. Must submit a request for one/ one-time grant of $1000 by deadline date.
- Funds will be used for one or more staff person or persons attending Transforming Library Services for Early Childhood Through Teens training.
- School librarians can attend and use travel funds if partnered with their local public library and plan to share expenses. (All funding is distributed to the local public library board only.)
- If there are funds remaining, these funds are to be used this fiscal year for other South Dakota training opportunities for the local library staff and trustees. (Jump Start, SDLA, Performance Showcase, Library Institute etc.)
- Failure to attend training opportunities would forfeit the libraries ability to apply for the grant again for five years. Excused absences due to emergencies are understandable and replacement staff is acceptable. In situations where no one representing your library can attend, the check can be returned without penalties.
How to apply: Applications should be submitted online at sd.countingopinions.com . Sign in using your library's annual report account credentials. Select the SMD Training Travel Grant from the Collection menu.
Deadline: Completed applications must be received no later than Friday, March 13, 2020 for Huron and Philip's Transforming Library Services for Early Childhood Through Teens trainings. Grant decisions will be communicated to recipient before training event.
South Dakota Community Foundation
The Stephanie Miller-Davis Fund 
was established to remember Stephanie while continuing her investment in children. This fund supports early childhood literacy in South Dakota with a focus on rural communities.
Questions? Contact:
Amanda Raiche
1-605-773-3131 (Option 5, 1)
1-605-773-5066
email