Patrons encouraged to ‘Adopt-A-Book’
Article content
Do you have fond memories of a loved one who enjoyed borrowing books from the Norfolk County Public Library system?
If so, now is your opportunity to make their name a permanent member of the library’s collection.
The Norfolk public library has teamed with a local group that calls itself Advocacy Fellowship Faith Active (AFFA). The goal is to boost interest in the library’s services while helping improve its selection of reading material.
Key to this is an “Adopt-A-Book” initiative where individuals, for a minimum donation of $20, can sponsor a book in their name or in the name of a loved one.
“Your donation helps support the library and our main purpose of being a book lender,” Heather King, CEO of the Norfolk library system, said this week in a news release. “We appreciate that AFFA is encouraging all community members to help with our fundraising efforts.”
AFFA consists of a group of local church-goers who came together in 2018 to “support children and teens needing an encouraging opportunity to enhance their quality of life.”
AFFA has agreed to match book sponsorships in Norfolk for the month of April to a maximum of $1,000. The library intends to use the money to purchase books and other reading material for children and teens. Funds will also be used to fund child-centred activities at the library’s branches.
Since 2018, AFFA fundraisers have helped children attend summer camp. AFFA also oversees the stencilling of larger-than-life game boards on school playgrounds that encourage physical literacy.
“The Adopt-A-Book challenge is a way for our community to help add to the library collection with a gift that keeps on giving,” AFFA spokesperson Bruce Armstrong, of Port Dover, says. “Sponsoring books for children and youth will promote literacy and keep our library book collection current.”
To kick off the “Adopt-A-Book” campaign, new books are on display at all five Norfolk branches. Patrons can adopt and borrow them immediately.
“Every book adopted will have a nameplate acknowledging the adoption placed inside the front cover of the book,” the library says in the news release. “You can choose to adopt in the name of a loved one, a friend, a teacher or even a pet. A charitable receipt will be issued for donations of $20 or greater.”
Visitors to branches of the Norfolk public library will also notice Adopt-A-Book donation jars at the front desk. From April 1-30, AFFA will match all donations dollar for dollar, effectively doubling the value of a contribution.
Donations to the local library system can also be made online at www.ncpl.ca .
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.