Book Bingo Begins At Westfield's Little Free Library

WESTFIELD, NJ - Westfield's Little Free Library has been providing free books to the local community since 2015, and this summer they running a Book Bingo in the hopes of getting children to read all summer long.

"Our goal is to not only show kids that reading can be fun, but also promote the local businesses that have gone out of their way to help us encourage a love of literacy," said Sara Liptack, who operates the library.

Those interested in participating can begin by grabbing a bingo board from the folder on the lower shelf of the Little Free Library, located at 710 E Broad Street. Once the board is acquired:

• Pick a bingo board (pink or purple).
• Mark off the tasks as you complete them.
• When you get "BINGO!", return the card to our mailbox and we will reach out to you to get you your participation prize of 2 slices at Outta Hand Pizza and a $2 bill from Midtown Authentic (while supplies last).
• Be sure to grab the other color board and repeat! Each child can complete one of each color.

But that isn't all.

"On Aug. 27 at 7 p.m., we will go live on our Instagram account to have a drawing for our grand prize," Liptack said. "Each completed board serves as an entry."

Children only up through and including high school age are eligible.

Liptack said the reading incentive program has some fabulous prizes donated by local businesses:

• Escapology Escape Rooms Garwood Gift Card
• The Shave Loft Haircut
• Kick Glass Art Studio Walk-in Fused Glass Project
• A Butter Life Bakery Gift Card
• Barnes and Noble Gift Card (thanks to The Social Status Co)
• Art Kit from Creative Kids

Liptack came up with the idea to start the library from a magazine article. Her husband built the library which compliments her own house and she reached out to friends for books donations.

Now the library has grown so much that she gets boxes full of books donated at her house all the time.

"I am blown away by the strong support system in our community," Liptack said. "People drop off books all the time and we have such an overstock of book donations."

The way the library works, is people in the community can stop by and borrow any book they desire then return it when they are finished. Others can drop off books to rotate the selections as well. Children's books are the most checked out.

"Children's books are our biggest customers and they go through the books so quickly," Liptack said.

Liptack has even had children's publishers donate their brand new books to the library.

For the contest, Liptack said she had one request.

"Send us pictures of your children completing the tasks so we can share them on our social media," she said.