Pendleton library gets big grant for early literacy

By Terry Murry on Monday, April 28th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Pendleton Public Library has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Oregon Department of Education’s Early Literacy Community Grant program. Grants went out to 13 programs, and the Pendleton facility was the only library to earn a grant.

Library Director Jennifer Johnson said planning is underway for a number of programs and enhancements because of the windfall.

“We’re going to start a high-dosage tutoring program,” she said. “It’ll be small-group tutoring that lasts 10 weeks at a time, completely free to the public.”

Johnson said the library will work with the Pendleton School District to find the students who could best utilize the tutoring.

Other programs in the works include adding more story times; hosting family literacy nights with dinner included; expanding Kinder Readers, First Grade Character Club, and second- and third-grade book clubs; increasing mobile story times; beginning a 1,000 books before kindergarten program; and starting a winter reading program.

Johnson said she hopes that through the grant the library can raise awareness about the free programs it offers for those from birth to third grade.