Special thanks to the NASRCC (Matthew Ross), Carpenters Local Union 279, Chester Kiwanis Club (Susan Bahren, Danielle August, Georgina Robillard, and EJ Szulwach), and local officials (Chester School Superintendent Dennis Petrilak, Orange County Legislator John Vero, Town of Chester Councilmen Tom Becker and Robert Courtenay) for bringing this installation to fruition. Additional libraries will be installed in Haverstraw, Highland Mills, Newburgh, Walden, Washingtonville and Marlboro. Provided photo.
The Office of State Sen. James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) and stakeholders celebrated the installation of a new “Little Library” in Chester’s Community Park on Valerie Drive on May 12.
The project, a partnership between Skoufis, the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC), the Chester Kiwanis Club, small business owners and elected officials to encourage district-wide literacy, includes the installation of six other “Little Libraries” throughout New York’s 39th Senate District in coming weeks.
Little Libraries are small wooden boxes that are constructed in pedestrian-friendly community hubs and act as spaces where residents can take a book and share a book. Chester’s Kiwanis Club had already purchased a Little Library to donate to the park. NASRCC donated materials, expertise and their time to create a custom base for the new library to rest on. It was then decorated by local volunteer artists and filled with books donated by businesses and community members.
Working with these partners, Skoufis was able to complete this project in its entirety at no cost to taxpayers.
“Chester’s Little Library installation demonstrates a true commitment to neighborhood teamwork,” Skoufis said. “I am grateful to the Kiwanis Club for their generosity, and to all the volunteers, artists and those who made donations. Chester kids and families will now have ongoing opportunities to engage with books while they enjoy the park, helping them to develop a life-long love of reading.”
Chester’s Little Library is functional and has been registered with LittleFreeLibary.org, which includes a free smartphone app that will allow anyone to easily find Little Libraries on-the-go, map routes between them, save their favorites and more.