Jersey Free Public Library receives ALSC/BWI Summer Reading Grant

Contacts: Larra Clark/Macey Morales


ALA Media Relations


617-954-3320

For Immediate Release


January 17, 2005

Jersey Free Public Library receives ALSC/BWI Summer Reading Grant

BOSTON - The Jersey Free Public Library, Jersey City, N.J., is the 2005 recipient of the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) BWI, Inc., Summer Reading Program Grant. The award is presented by ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

The $3,000 grant, donated by BWI, Inc., provides financial assistance for public libraries to develop outstanding summer reading programs for children. The grant also recognizes ALSC members for outstanding program achievement.

In addition to summer reading, the winning library program targets ages 11-14 - in particular children with special needs, reluctant readers, and English as a second language (ESL) youth. Through book-centered activities, the library encourages young adults' active participation in the culture of literacy. Jersey City branch libraries will promote summer reading involvement and achievement through library card drives, book incentives, book talks and the utilization of diverse material formats for literary programs. The acquisition of Braille, spoken-word, video, hi-lo books and graphic novels are some of the formats that will be employed for programming.

"I found this program particularly worthy as the group of readers that Jersey Free Public Library is targeting is often lost in the transition from children's to teen literature," said Selection Committee Chair Jill Walker, "Through this program, the library recognizes the need to address individual learning styles, reading ability and preferences, thereby making a real effort to more fully serve young library users in a comprehensive manner."

Members of the 2005 ALSC/BWI, Inc. Summer Reading Program Grant Committee are: Chair Jill Walker, Baker & Taylor, Inc. (Bridgewater, N.J.); Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library (Stamford, Conn.); Alison Grant, West Bloomfield Township District Library (Bloomfield, Mich.); Bettye Smith, District of Columbia Public Library; Lynn Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library (Akron, Ohio); Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library (Minnetonka, Minn.); and Anitra Steele, Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Mo).