By Kelsey Lagana, Bonner Leader for Literacy - Geneva Reads is placing Bright Blue Bookshelves in the Geneva community to provide books for people to read or take home and share with their families. The books are free. The shelves are stocked with “gently used books” and are donated by individuals and agencies in the community.
 


There are currently five bookshelves placed in Geneva: at Geneva General Pediatrics Office, Department of Social Security, Child and Family Resource Center, Court Yard Apartments Administrative Building, and the Presbyterian Church.

People and agencies interested in contributing books to these bookshelves are encouraged to contact the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Books may be dropped at the Center, which is located on the second floor of Trinity Hall.

For more information about drop-offs, please call 315-781-3825 or e-mail the Bonner Leader for Literacy at Kelsey.Lagana@hws.edu.
 


The purpose of placing bookshelves in the community is to encourage reading by families and to place books in homes. Presently, the shelves are stocked with children’s books.

There is a strong correlation between how well a child can read and how many books are in their home. Children can read the books where the bookshelves are located or take them home if they wish to read the book often!

Geneva Reads hopes that by flooding the community with books, children will gain a greater appreciation for reading. Geneva Reads hopes to grow the Bookshelf program to eventually include books for teens, young adults and adults.
 


The bookshelves were established with funding from the Geneva’s Rotary Club and were painted blue to honor their donation. Bookshelves were painted by Hobart and William Smith Colleges students and placed in the community in areas with high concentrations of children.