Veterans Heritage Project

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

In July 2016, a North Valley Regional Library community assessment identified a large number of veterans living in the library’s service area. This information spurred a search of organizations that would enhance the library’s engagement with veterans. “Connecting Students with Veterans” is the mission statement of the Veterans Heritage Project, and after an initial meeting with the program’s founder, Barbara Hatch, we determined that the North Valley Regional Library would be a good fit as a new chapter. Traditionally, chapters live at Arizona middle schools, high schools, and colleges. The North Valley Regional Library is the first library to come on board as a chapter but, as a shared-use facility on the Boulder Creek High School campus, the library has direct relationships with teachers and students. The library forged a very successful partnership with the high school and, in the first semester, students completed 19 veteran stories. They won two awards: one for the most new members and one for the most completed stories.