The Saul O Sidore Memorial Foundation, a private non-profit charitable trust located in Bedford, has announced the awarding of grants to four public libraries in New Hampshire. The semi-annual grants are part of a long-term commitment by the Foundation to award funding for projects that are designed to assist libraries in providing improved library services to their constituencies.

The latest grants have been awarded to the public libraries in Campton, Durham, Tamworth, and Wakefield. The Campton Public Library, which also serves as the town's school library, will receive a grant of $3,000 to help pay for a Winnebago Library Automation System. The Durham Public Library, recently separated from the Dimond Library at the University of New Hampshire, was awarded $2,000 for the acquisition of new books. The Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth will receive a grant of $1,494 that will be used to buy new shelving. The Gafney Library in Wakefield was awarded a grant of $2,300 which will be used to provide for a children's summer program while the library is being renovated.

The grants are named in memory of Rebecca Lee Spitz, a native of Manchester and a trustee of the Foundation who died of cancer at the age of 47. She had earned a Masters of Library Science degree and had worked for several years as a multi-lingual librarian for the city of Haifa, Israel. In addition to being a volunteer at the Hollis Social Library, she also served for a number of years as Treasurer of the Hollis School District.

The first grant in this program was awarded in December, 1995 to the Hollis Social Library. Subsequent grants have been awarded to the libraries of Hillsboro, Goffstown, Newmarket, and Plainfield. Further grants will be considered at the next semi-annual meeting of the Foundation, which will take place in November, 1998. For information about the guidelines and the form of application, public libraries in New Hampshire should address inquiries to: Ralph Sidore, Treasurer, Saul O Sidore Memorial Foundation, 24 Gage Road, Bedford, N.H. 03110. Telephone (603) 626-4424.