Twelve Lancaster County libraries will receive a collection of books from the National Endowment for the Humanities under a program that strives to increase the public's interest in American history and culture.

Each library will receive hardcover copies of 19 books for readers from kindergarten age to grade 12 as part of the "We the People" Bookshelf program.

The books will be given to Adamstown Area Library, Columbia Public Library, Eastern Lancaster County Library, Ephrata Public Library, Hinkletown Mennonite School Library, Lancaster Public Library, Leola Branch Library, Library System of Lancaster County bookmobile, Lititz Public Library, Manheim Community Library, Manheim Township Public Library and Pequea Valley Public Library.

The books reflect the theme "Picturing America" and explore the premise that literature, as well as art, can be a window into the history, aspirations and ideals of Americans.

The libraries will receive hardback copies of the following books:

• Kindergarten to grade 3 — "Walt Whitman: Words for America" by Barbara Kerley, "Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez," (in English and Spanish) by Kathleen Krull, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and "Sweet Music in Harlem" by Debbie Taylor.

• Grades 4 to 6 — "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich, "American Tall Tales" by Mary Pope Osborne, "On the Wings of Heroes" by Richard Peck, "Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule" by Harriette Gillem Robinet and "The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe" by Roland Smith.

• Grades 7 to 8 — "The Life and Death of Crazy Horse" by Russell Freedman, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (in English and Spanish) by Washington Irving, "Across America on an Emigrant Train" by Jim Murphy and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain.

• Grades 9 to 12 — "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis, "Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange" by Elizabeth Partridge, "Travels with Charley in Search of America" (in English and Spanish) by John Steinbeck and "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville.

The libraries also will receive "Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out" by The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and "1776: The Illustrated Edition" by David McCullough.

Each library receiving the books will conduct educational programs to correspond with the titles from May 1 through April 30, 2010.

The Bookshelf titles were selected by NEH in consultation with the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children.