Susan Jaye-Kaplan, left, and Francie Cornwall display some of the books included in the Link to Libraries’ Welcome to Kindergarten bags. Jaye-Kaplan hopes to bring the program to Westfield. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
WESTFIELD – Link to Libraries has been supplying books to children and schools in the area for six years, and is hoping to expand its presence in Westfield.
The nonprofit organization was founded by Susan Jaye-Kaplan and Janet Crimmins with a mission to collect and distribute new and gently used books to elementary school libraries and non-profit organizations and to enhance the language and literacy skills of children of all cultural backgrounds.
Through grants and donations, Link to Libraries gives brand new books to mainly underserved schools and to individual children so that they can have a home library. The group has a partnership program for businesses and individuals to partner with a school or other nonprofit ogranization. The partnership calls for a $1,200 commitment for one to three years and an “adoption” of the school.
“We currently have 47 schools sponsored and are hoping for 50 by spring,” said Jaye-Kaplan. “The business feels a sense of ownership and most have said when their three years are up they want to continue.”
Franklin Avenue School is the only Westfield school currently sponsored. Jaye-Kaplan said dentist Elizabeth Perry has sponsored the school for two years and the relationship she has developed there is a model for others.
“I would love to get more Westfield schools sponsored,” she said. “They can even be co-sponsored by two businesses.”
Link to Libraries also has a Welcome to Kindergarten program headed by volunteer Francie Cornwell that supplies students entering kindergarten with a tote bag and new books to take home, as well as additional books throughout the school year and games from Hasbro. Currently, the program runs in Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke.
“Westfield will be our next Welcome to Kindergarten community,” Jaye-Kaplan said, adding that next year Link to Libraries will partner with Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center for a read aloud program.
“We have read aloud programs in schools and we have a ‘celebrity’ program at the Eastfield Mall and Head Start Springfield,” Jaye-Kaplan said, “and, we are starting one in Holyoke for Latino readers. The thing that’s different about our read aloud is every child gets a book to take home.”
Link to Libraries runs on volunteers – even Jaye-Kaplan and Crimmins are 100 percent volunteers. The group has a donated warehouse space in Hampden and youth and adult volunteers help organize the thousands of books that come through the warehouse each month.
“Our volunteers range in age from eight to 75,” Jaye-Kaplan said.
Link to Libraries is supported by numerous companies, banks and families from Enfield, Conn. to the Berkshires, Greenfield, Monson and every community in between.
Its one major fundraiser for the public is the Journey Around the World for Literacy event set for April 30 at the Delaney House in Holyoke.
For more information Link to Libraries, visit www.linktolibraries.org or contact Jaye-Kaplan at (413)224-1031.
