Library gets 99 new kids' books

MONROEVILLE — The Monroeville Public Library recently announced the addition of 99 brand-new hardcover children's books to its collection thanks to the generosity of the Pilcrow Foundation and the support of the Friends of the Monroeville Public Library. The project began with a $400 donation from the Friends of the Monroeville Public Library, which qualified the library for a matching grant through the Pilcrow Foundation. Through the foundation's remarkable commitment to strengthening public library collections, that initial gift was more than doubled, allowing the library to receive nearly 100 beautiful new hardcover books for children and families to enjoy. This generous gift was made possible through the support of Hal Berenson and Laura Ackerman, of Colorado, along with Drs. Bill Strawbridge and Meg Wallhagen of California, whose dedication to promoting literacy has helped place high-quality books into the hands of young readers across the country. Rather than receiving a preselected assortment of books, the Pilcrow Foundation provided the library with an extensive catalog containing hundreds of carefully chosen children's titles. Library director Jozi Heckel thoughtfully reviewed the collection and selected the titles she believed would best serve the interests and needs of Monroeville's children and families. The result is a collection of books chosen with great care: stories that will inspire imagination, encourage a lifelong love of reading and become cherished favorites for years to come. These new additions include a wide variety of engaging picture books and children's literature that will support early literacy, family reading and classroom learning while expanding the library's already growing children's collection. The Monroeville Public Library extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Friends of the Monroeville Public Library for its continued investment in local literacy and to the Pilcrow Foundation and its generous donors for making this opportunity possible. Their combined support is an investment not only in books but in the future of our community's children. The new books are now available for checkout at the Monroeville Public Library. Families are encouraged to stop in, explore the new collection, and discover a new favorite story together.