Meriden Public Library teams up with Macy's - Westfield Meriden and Reading is Fundamental to Support Children's Literacy

The Meriden Public Library Tomie dePaola’s Children’s Library was recently selected as a local impact site for the Macy’s Be Book Smart! campaign. This effort is a national partnership between Macy’s, Reading is Fundamental and local organizations to raise awareness and support of children’s literacy. As a result of the Be Book Smart! campaign, the Meriden Public Library recently received 542 new hardcover books from Reading is Fundamental to distribute to the children of Meriden.

The 2014 Be Book Smart! campaign had a special focus on summer reading and summer learning loss. Research shows that reading books during the summer is the most effective way for a child to maintain and even improve their literacy skills. Children in low-income families have less access to books and programs that maintain and build literacy when school closes, and can lose up to 3 months of reading skills over the summer. Providing these children with books to call their own, and connecting them to the services and resources of the library can make an incredible impact on their ability to return to school ready to learn! Contact:Gretchen L. Durley, Children’s Library, Tomie dePaola Children’s Library (203) 630-6347.