Stamford students can grab a book to go with their lunch on Friday
STAMFORD — The coronavirus is keeping Stamford’s kids away from the library, but that doesn’t mean the library can’t come to the kids.
On Friday, May 15, the Ferguson Library and the Stamford Public Education Foundation will launch Books Across Stamford, giving away 4,500 books. They will go to any kids in kindergarten through eighth grade who stop for grab-and-go meals at the 14 distribution sites in Stamford for the schools’ free and reduced lunch program.
“We, from the beginning, wanted to get books into their hands,” Ferguson Library President Alice Knapp said. “We plan on doing more in the summer months.”
Each site will receive 300 books, bagged in sets of two and sorted by grade level. The books are from Scholastic Books, which recently closed its Danbury warehouse and donated the ageappropriate books to state libraries.
Stamford Public Schools and C2C/United Way are also helping with the effort, Knapp said.
The giveaway is one way the library is keeping connected with patrons young and old during the mandatory shutdowns due to the coronavirus. Even with the doors closed to the Ferguson and its branches, staffers have issued about 400 new library cards and spent time helping callers renew lapsed cards in order to access books, movies, songs and more available online.
Children in the Stamford schools can go online to learn how to add a few digits before their school ID numbers to create virtual library cards. Once armed with a card, they have access to the library’s research databases, TumbleBooks for early readers and Hoopla, Overdrive and more, Knapp said.
In addition, the library Homework Helpers program is available for those finishing up their schoolwork for the year. The Stamford Public Education Foundation is always looking for new volunteers to act as mentors in the free interactive program, which is continuing through Zoom meetings during distance learning, Knapp said.
Children can sign up for assistance in all subjects and all grade levels in both English and Spanish.
The library has morphed most of its own programming to online versions since closing its doors on March 13. Children’s library staffers have created story hours and nursery rhyme sessions available on the website and on social media. Recent offerings include a musical exercise session to “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” and a fun reading of “Pete the Cat and his Magic Sunglasses.”
For timies and the locations to get free books as well as grab-and-go meals for students, visit www.stamfordpublicschools.org/district/news/ new-site-added-grab-andgo-meals.
For more information on the library and its programs, visit fergusonlibrary.org.