Visiting Author Series has Funding for Three More Years

By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community News

The New Albany Community Foundation on Dec. 16 donated $21,643 to the 2013-14 New Albany-Plain Local author-in-residency program fund.

The program has funding to continue for at least three more years.

New Albany residents Lance and Carolyn White initiated the series in 2010 by committing $50,000 over five years.

The New Albany Women’s Network and district PTOs also contribute to the fund, said Craig Mohre, executive director of the New Albany Community Foundation.

“All of the participating organizations decided to re-up and commit to another three years,” Mohre said.

This year’s program begins Feb. 4-7 when Will Hillenbrand, a native of Cincinnati who writes and illustrates children’s books, will visit the 2-5 elementary building.

The series continues in May Hillenbrand returns May 6-8 to visit the K-1 elementary building.

Also, New Albany Middle School will host Tanya Anderson, a history major and former teacher, May 5-6.

The series concludes May 8-9, when Elsa Marston visits New Albany High School.

The school district’s librarians choose the authors to invite.