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4,200 BOOKS DONATED FOR LIBRARY'S KID READING PROGRAM
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | --Photo By Jo Ann La Russo Getting books in the hands of every child in the community is the goal of the Ocean County Library's Books for Kids program. |
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Read a book and travel to distant lands. That's the goal of the Ocean County Library's Books for Kids program, designed to ensure that every child in the community can experience the joy of reading their own treasured book.
Representatives of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department and county Head Start organiza- tions were on hand Friday morning at the Toms River Library branch to receive the donations as part of the library's Books for Kids program.
More than 4,000 booksfrom charitable donors were collected this year at the library's 21 branches. The books will be distributed as holiday gifts by community organizations that serve children, including the sheriff's department, The Children's Home Society and Ocean Inc. Head Start.
The Brick Township Rotary Club and Point Pleasant Rotary Club also participated in the donations, said Chris Barnes, Books for Kids program coordinator.
"We thank all those who donated books for such a good cause," said Barnes. "The program is an opportunity for kids to learn to read and helps bring their family together."
"It's wonderful to be the recipient of the library's generosity," said Meg Saunders, coordinator of the Ocean Inc. Head Start program. "It's an opportunity for them to help support our literacy initiative, which is a big component of Head Start. The books will be distributed before the winter break."
Marinel Mukherjee, of the Lakewood Head Start program, agreed.
"We're always delighted to get books," she said. "Thanks to all the donors who remembered that we have more Spanish speaking families in our program, for donating some Spanish language books. They are all appreciated."
Sgt. Salvatore Amante, of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department, said the books will be given out through the departments' Toys for Tots program.
"We have 1,200 underprivileged kids on our list," said Amante. "We are grateful to the library for the donation. Reading a book is food for the mind."
The donations couldn't have come at a better time.
"It's been a difficult year because of the many toy recalls," said Amante. "A lot of our sources dried up."
"Putting a book in a child's hand is every librarian's dream," said Ocean County Library Director Elaine McConnell.
"There is so much emphasis on toys out there," she said. "A book can be treasured, reread and loved."
"It's contagious," Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari said of about reading. As library liaison to the freeholders, Vicari lauded the Books for Kids program.
"Any student in need can have a book to read," he said. "It's a great gift for the holidays that lasts beyond, and gives them a life skill that will last forever."
Barnes called this year's Books for Kids program "a success."
"We are happy to distribute the books, and the program is a good opportunity to support our community partners," said Barnes.
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