Ritzville Library increases children’s book selection

The Ritzville Library District No. 2 recently added 83 new books to the children’s and teen rooms.

The books, which had a total retail value of 1,405.44, were purchased through generous donations from community members.

Linda and Marty Erdman, Theresa and Scott Fitch and one anonymous donor contributed $210. The Ritzville Library Foundation contributed $140. The Libri Foundation matched donations 2-to-1 with $700.

The foundation also received a donation from Bill Strawbridge and Meg Wallhagen, which added an additional $350 worth of children’s math and science books to the library.

The books are currently on display and available for check out at the Ritzville Library.

The Libri Foundation was established in 1989 to help rural libraries acquire new, quality, hardcover children’s books they could not afford. The foundation had donated over $5.8 million worth of new children’s books to more than 3,300 libraries throughout the country.

The Foundation supports the concept that children who learn to enjoy reading at an early age continue to read throughout their lives. In order to develop a love of reading, children must have access to books, which stretch their imaginations, touch their emotions and expand their horizons.

For many children in rural areas the local public library is often their primary source of reading material. Many rural schools either have no library or the library is inadequate to meet the needs of the students.

At a time when more and more children and their parents and teachers are using the public library, these same libraries are facing increasing financial hardships and are unable to buy the books their young readers need.

A library can receive up to $1,050 worth of new, quality, hardcover children’s books through the Foundation’s books for Children program.

More information can be found at http://www.librifoundation.org