Mayor Benjamin, Richland Library, Parks and Recreation to host additional Books 2 Boys events
October 19, 2016
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, in collaboration with the Richland Library and City of Columbia Parks and Recreation, will host two additional Books 2 Boys book fairs in November.
“The kickoff event was awesome, and I’m excited to give even more books to boys in Columbia,” said Mayor Benjamin. “If we can make reading as popular or as fun as sports, we’ll change boys’ outlooks and futures.”
The first book fair will be held at 4 p.m. on Nov. 3 at Woodland Park. Solicitor Dan Johnson and Mayor Benjamin will be guest readers for the boys who attend.
The second book fair will be held at 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 at Hyatt Park. Storyteller Darion McCloud will be a guest reader for the boys who attend.
“It is so rewarding to see the excitement the books themselves have generated,” said Amy Schofield, Richland Library community outreach manager. “Whether their interests lie in animals, superheroes or sports, the boys were able to pick their own reading paths at the kick-off event. We are thrilled to be partnering with Mayor Benjamin and the City of Columbia’s Parks and Recreation Department for these upcoming book fairs to address some of the challenges often associated with reading and books among young boys.”
Richland Library will also provide the boys with drawstring book bags and other reading materials.
“The Books to Boys Kickoff had a great turnout, and I’m looking forward to continuing this momentum,” said Carey Rich, superintendent of Columbia Parks and Recreation. “I’m truly excited about this initiative that will allow more than 300 boys to be given the opportunity to receive books and become avid readers.”
The book fairs will provide approximately 1,500 books from which the boys can choose. The books will vary in reading levels for boys in grades 1-5 and will be set up by age group.
The purchasing and selecting of the books is being coordinated by the library. Hand-selected by librarians at Richland Library, the books are specific to topics and genres that may be of interest to boys of those ages.
The book fair events are not open to the public but will instead provide books to boys from local after-school programs.
The Mayor’s Books 2 Boys initiative is supported by a gift from CIGNA insurance.
The initiative falls under President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper milestone of having boys read at grade level by third grade.
