WESTFIELD-Teachers including Lisa Pignatare of Westfield know the importance of sharing their love of reading with their students. This Wednesday night, the Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum will be offering a special preview for area educators the night before its popular Spring Book Sale that starts on Thursday morning.
Pignatare, a former para-professional in the Westfield school district who now teaches second grade at the Lincoln Elementary School in Springfield, is also a member of the Friends’ board and is spreading the word among her peers about the many books and puzzles that await patrons during the annual book sale.
“The book sale is such an incredible experience all around,” said Pignatare. “The books are at a discounted rate and all proceeds benefit the Athenaeum’s programs including the summer reading programs.”
The Friends’ signature fundraising event is its annual spring book sale, slated April 14 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., April 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and April 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The preview night is April 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Lang Auditorium, and is open to educators from the surrounding communities with a valid educational institution ID, as well as Athenaeum “Friends” members who have paid their annual membership fee.
“Over the years we’ve come to recognize that many, many teachers shop our book sale, using their personal funds, to buy books for their classrooms,” said Bill Westerlind, president of the Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum. “The idea of a special ‘Educator Preview Night’ was born at our Children’s Toy and Book Sale last November when we noticed several teachers from city schools and surrounding communities buying shopping bags full of books for their classrooms.”
Westerlind noted that teachers and Friends’ members will be able to shop the book sale on April 13 before it opens to the general public the next morning.
“Each teacher will also receive a special discount shopping certificate good towards their entire purchase,” he said.
Westerlind said that proceeds from the book sale support the many free programs and services offered to the community by the Athenaeum that are not funded in the library’s regular operating budget.
“Through fundraising events and membership, the Friends have raised more than $170,000 since its inception,” said Westerlind.
The Friends group is a 501c(3) nonprofit, volunteer group created in 1995 to support the programs and services of the Athenaeum. Area residents interested in getting involved can send an email to [email protected] or search for Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum on Facebook.
“From books on history, poetry and the sciences, there is so much to see at such great prices at the book sale,” said Pignatare. “Your dollar will go a long way so it is a win-win for everyone.”
