Dear Editor:
This year’s Summer Reading Program totals were amazing! The 804 Jersey City children attending the 2012 Summer Reading Program (SRP 2012) read an astounding total of 17,052 books, breaking down to 574 children in grades K-5 (14,725 books), 166 young adults in grades 6 & up (1,744 books), and 64 children from 0-4 years (583 books), from a total of 1,073 children originally registered for the eight-week program.
Those totals surpassed last year, and yet, we know there are so many more children in Jersey City that haven’t participated this year that we would love to have next summer!
The Summer Reading Program committee worked very hard to make sure an entertaining and exceptional program was available to any child wanting to participate. We have to thank Susan Stewart, Liz Cartaina, Francina Stevens, Mary Quinn and Tyara Tucker, who brought experience, new ideas, and enthusiasm to planning the program.
The success of the 2011 fundraising, and the program and the publicity it generated for both the program and the Library, had a definite impact on this year’s program fundraising. The Summer Reading Program made every effort to assure the children had a summer program that was truly exceptional. The funds were raised to cover all expenses, which totaled $7,936.25!!! Many thanks to Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop, who donated $1,500 from his Christmas Smack-Down Contest; Ellen Simon and Joel Caminer ($2,000); Nancy and Nathan Sambul ($2,000); Capital One Bank ($1,500); the Hudson City Lions Club ($500), and thanks to the many people who wrote individual checks, money orders and gave hard-earned cash. Their generosity enabled us to purchase SRP t-shirts, arts & crafts supplies, movies, schedule two trips (Camp Liberty and The Funplex, both of which included lunch), and a performance at three branches from Bonnie the Magic Lady.
Special thanks go to the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders and its chairman, Eliu Rivera, for assisting with transportation for the two trips, and to Carmine Tabone of the Educational Arts Team, for making Camp Liberty so affordable to the Jersey City Free Public Library for the annual Summer Reading Program. Kudos to all!
Sincerely,
Sonia Araujo
Assistant Library Director
Jersey City Free Public Library