Park kindergartners walk to Wisner for Library Card Sign-Up Month

September was Library Card Sign-Up Month!

And on Monday, kindergarteners from Park Avenue Elementary School celebrated by taking a walking field trip to visit their neighbors at Albert Wisner Public Library. Developing reading skills at a young age is vitally important as a foundation for all subsequent learning and growth, which is why literacy is built into all facets of learning at Warwick Valley Schools.

The annual Albert Wisner outing helps the youngest Wildcats learn how public libraries not only complement the reading and learning they enjoy in school, but also highlights the many meaningful roles that libraries play in the communities they serve. While some of the students were already familiar with the myriad programs for children at their local library, for others, seeing the stacks of books and the designated children's area was an eye-opening and inspiring experience.

"We learned how a public library belongs to all of its community members," said Park Avenue library and media specialist Matthew Spicehandler. "And we learned about the important bonds between literacy, public libraries, and thriving communities."

Research and reporting by organizations including the Brookings Institution and American Library Association all point to the power of libraries to strengthen communities. Libraries offer free access to educational resources, digital tools, and social services that support not only lifelong learning, but also economic mobility. You may recognize "lifelong learning" as one of the seven tenets of our district's Portrait of a Graduate. The resources and guidance that libraries provide also support other Portrait tenets, including being an Ethical & Global Citizens by promoting civic engagement, and empowering kids to be strong Communicators and Collaborators through the social interactions that public programs provide. 

During their visit, the children toured the library and saw the different materials and programs available for people of all ages, learning that the library is a shared space for everyone, of every age, in the community. Albert Wisner staffers Teresa Vela-Hayes, children’s department supervisor, and Billie Gallo, public outreach librarian, guided the visit and answered some great students questions. Their presentation highlighted the connection between literacy and community resources, encouraging the students to make reading part of their everyday lives.

How better to promote that idea, than to send the students back to school with some new reading material! Each student was excited to choose a book to take home with them, as a gift from the library. They also got to sign up for their own library cards -- if they didn't already have one -- their very own keys to unlock new worlds of knowledge and imagination! 

Thank you, to everyone at Albert Wisner Public Library for their hospitality and for the many things they do daily for our community. It is wonderful to have a place where people come together in the spirit of learning and exploration, right here in our own neighborhood! 

Follow this link to what the library has going on for you and your family! And don't miss the Warwick Children's Book Festival on October 12, which will take place at Warwick Valley Middle School.