Incentivizing Reading at EHS

Encinal did not have a librarian for nearly three months of the 2023-2024 school year. As the new Library Teacher, Heidi Swensen, a former graduate of Encinal HS, had the opportunity to become reacquainted with the community she always felt connected to. She also wanted to recharge enthusiasm for reading.

Ms. Swensen requested an AEF mini grant to buy gift cards to incentivize students and staff to participate in a book review raffle, among other activities, to encourage greater use of library resources.

She wrote back to AEF: “I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the mini-grant that Alameda Education Foundation shared with our library to support a monthly book review raffle program. I have had the joy of being able to deliver gift card prizes to our winners. In December, our winners were a 10th grade student and Cat Silverman from our attendance office. In January, our winners were another 10th grade student and Lee Kaplan from our College & Career Center. Thank you for your generosity and support!”

Heidi Swensen (she/her)
Library Teacher & Media Center Support
Encinal Junior & Senior High School