EMPORIUM — The Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library will hold its Holiday Book Gifting Program from now through Dec. 16.
“We launched this program 4 years ago with the goal of getting brand new, wrapped books for the holidays to as many kids in Cameron County as possible,” said Librarian Yelena Kisler, aka the ‘library elf.’
The program is open to all kids 0-18, and includes books in reading levels of baby/toddler, beginning reader (grades 1-3), middle reader, and young adult. “It’s been a pleasure to watch this program grow from year to year,” Kisler added.
This year, second graders at Woodland Elementary School will be the beneficiaries of left over funding from the 2022 Penny Wars Fundraiser. Last year, Kisler said, the school designated the library as the recipient of $2,500, the amount that the Penny Wars raised.
“With the money left over from the funds we are able to give each of the students a new book, and anything not spent on the Book Gifting program this year will be rolled over into next year’s pool of funding,” she added.
All book orders must be in by the due date to ensure books are delivered by Christmas. Anyone interested in having a book gifted to an area child (children) this holiday season should complete the request form, available on the library website, www.barbaramoscatobrownlibrary.org, or in-person at the library or chamber, and return it by dropping it off at the library or mail it to: Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library, 27 West 4th St., Emporium PA, 15834.
The form requests the applicant and the child’s name, the child’s age, the applicant’s phone number and email address, as well as the child’s favorite authors, genres, or interests. It is important to fill each out so that the library elf can get to work on the order. “Each year I get the pleasure of handpicking a book for each child that I think fits their interests and personalities and that’s just so much fun for me,” she said.
Another option in the program is to have a book gifted to an anonymous child. Complete the request form with at least the applicant’s name and contact information.
Community members who want to contribute monetary donations can stop by the library or the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce, before Dec. 22. “Ornaments” are available for purchase in $2, $5, $10, and $20 increments. The ornament purchases will be put toward the purchase of new books this holiday season for children and teens in the area.
Kisler added, “Thanks to generous donations from the community, and this additional boost from the school, this year we will be able to buy more books than ever before.”
Organizers, and the “library elf,” remind those completing forms to be sure to include a phone number or email so they can contact you to receive the gift.
