Picture books play such an important role in a child’s development. Picture books introduce young children to reading and help lay the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity and learning. What is your favorite picture book? What special memories do you have of reading that book?
The Chesterfield County Public Library (CCPL) needs to refresh and update its picture book collection and the Friends of Chesterfield County Public Library are stepping in to help. According to CCPL Director Mike Mabe, “We’re always updating our children’s picture book collection to meet the needs of the next generation of young readers and their families.” Mabe explains that CCPL spends up to half of the picture book budget on replacing favorite books in the collection that are wearing out due to heavy circulation and enthusiastic use. He adds, “With COVID-19 concerns, the refresh is more important this year than ever, and our budget is even more constrained than usual.
The Friends are raising money to donate 1,000 picture books to CCPL as a special project to commemorate the Friends’ 50th anniversary. The new picture books will be placed throughout all ten branches of the library. The Friends are asking for financial donations as opposed to book donations. Each $20.00 donation will sponsor one picture book. Donors can choose the genre of picture book they sponsor from more than thirty categories, such as bi-lingual, fairy tales, or things that go. For an additional $6.00, donors can also add an individualized book plate that will be placed inside a picture book in honor of a special person or memory.
Donors can donate online or mail a check to the Friends. To donate online, please visit the Friends website at chesterfieldfriends.org.
Checks can be sent to Friends of Chesterfield County Public Library, P.O. Box 4842, Midlothian, VA 23112-4842. If you send a check, please specify “Picture Book Fundraiser” in the notes line and what genre of book you prefer to sponsor.
To learn more about the Friends, including information about how to join or renew a membership, visit ChesterfieldFriends.org.
Follow the Friends on Facebook (@ChesterfieldFriends), or Instagram (@ChesterfieldFriends) or Twitter (@ChesFriends).
Photo: Chesterfield County resident Michael Jackson, father to Jasmine (6) and Michael Ray (7) pictured with wife Vera. “Reading is a learned behavior and parents are their children’s first teachers.”
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For more about the benefits of reading aloud to children of all ages, read this article in RFM.
