Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710
FAX (215) 567-7850
Contact: Communications and Development
10,000 BOOKS FOR CHILDREN BOOK DRIVE AIMS TO FILL FREE LIBRARY SHELVES
For the second year in a row, the Free Library encourages community members to help provide 10,000 new books for Philadelphia school children participating in Summer Reading
PHILADELPHIA, May 11, 2010—As researchers debate whether heavy internet and cell phone use helps or hinders literacy among children and teens, studies continue to suggest that the simple act of reading six or more books during the summer can help students avoid “learning loss” and even make gains in their reading levels. The Free Library of Philadelphia is committed to helping students in this journey and is hosting the second annual 10,000 Books for Children book drive in order to fill the shelves for the more than 57,000 students who participate in the annual Summer Reading program, which runs from June 16 to August 11.
Community members can support the book drive by contributing funds, purchasing books from a special list and dropping them off at Parkway Central, ordering books online, and using their businesses as a means to acquire these much-needed materials. The list of books needed for Summer Reading, as compiled by the Philadelphia School District and the Archdiocese, can be found on the Free Library’s website at freelibrary.org/bookdrive. For the second year in a row, Barnes and Noble is hosting a book fair and offering sales at regional locations, and a special code (found on freelibrary.org/bookdrive) allows customers to unlock a cash-back reward for the Free Library.
“Tens of thousands of children rely on us every summer—as an opportunity to discover new worlds, as a safe haven, and even as a rainy day getaway,” said Siobhan A. Reardon, Free Library President and Director. “Last year, we suffered a 40-percent cut in our book budget, so every donation helps us continue to be the Free Library of Imagination!”
The designated drop-off location for all books is the Parkway Central Library, located at 1901 Vine Street. The Library also welcomes monetary donations, which will allow the Library to purchase dramatically discounted books through its wholesaler, making more books available to children. Online donations will be accepted at freelibrary.org/bookdrive.
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The Free Library of Philadelphia system consists of 49 branches, three regional libraries, the Parkway Central Library, and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. With more than 6 million visits annually, the Free Library is one of the most widely used educational and cultural institutions in Philadelphia.
05/11/2010
Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850