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Link to Libraries to celebrate 50,000th book donation |
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March 12, 2012
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com
LONGMEADOW — The non-profit organization that is helping schools fill its libraries and putting books into the hands of children is noting an important milestone: the donation of more than 50,000 books.
Link to Libraries (LTL) will be hosting a celebration on April 11 starting at 6 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The event will feature a special wine tasting and will also honor noted and local children's book authors and illustrators Richard Michelson, Barry Moser, Jane Dyer, Diane deGroat, Lesléa Newman and Ruth Sanderson
Four years ago Susan Jaye-Kaplan and Janet Crimmins founded the organization to support literacy efforts throughout the region. Kaplan believes in the power of reading and has told students the story of how as an orphaned child growing up in Boston, books in her local library carried her to places all around the world.
"LTL prides itself on donating books of all genres, which includes science, biography, multi cultural, early readers and books for fun and easy reading. With budget cuts we know that library books do not often take priority and yet are very much needed in the schools. We hope the donation of new books we supply will enhance the classrooms, libraries and give our children easy access to good literature. They deserve they best, they are our future," she said.
Kaplan added, "We are working closely with the Irene & George Davis Foundation, the Beveridge Foundation and those educators that understand the need for our children to be proficient readers by grade 4."
The organization does more than just deliver books to school libraries. It has started several programs focused on specific literacy issues.
"The LTL 'Welcome to Kindergarten' program gives all children entering kindergarten in Holyoke and Springfield a literacy book bag, two bilingual books, a book mark and parent education materials. We work closely with the literacy directors in both cities to insure the books are important additions to the children's home library. This year, over 2,800 children will receive the LTL 'Welcome to Kindergarten' literacy book bags," Kaplan explained.
She added that the organization's new initiative, "Reading Any Place," will start later this year. The program will be aimed at the more than 1,200 homeless children who are living in motels and shelters in Holyoke, Chicopee, West Springfield and Springfield. The new effort is a collaboration with HAPHousing and the McKinney-Vento Programs.
"It is our hope that during the year children in this program will receive a LTL tote bag and six to 10 new books. Our aim is to make reading fun, educational and more," Kaplan said.
Kaplan praised LTL's volunteers who, she said, "moves this organization forward."
"We are honored to have the donation of warehouse space at Rediker Software in Hampden and the volunteer efforts of organizations such as Meyers Bros. Kalicka, Health New England, Business West Magazine, abc40, Western New England University and countless others who understand our mission," she added.
Tickets for the celebration are $35, which include wine and food. They can be purchased by contacting Link to Libraries, Inc., 35 Blue Grass Drive, East Longmeadow, MA 01028 or by visiting www.linktolibraries.org .
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