Encouraging Young Writers

To the Editor:

As a member of the C.H. Booth Library Board of Trustees, it gave me great pleasure to attend a program held at the library last night that was geared toward recruiting fifth graders who are entering the sixth grade next fall into becoming involved in the writing programs. Margaret Brown, the young adult librarian, introduced the children as well as all the teachers and assistants who are involved in writing poetry, fiction, and mysteries/fantasies. Kay Kudlinski was also present, and she will be leading the Writing Camp this summer. The room was filled with the energy of youngsters who are very excited about writing and were very enthusiastic about participating in some of the exercises that are used in the various programs.

It was also an opportunity to say goodbye to Tori Mead, who has been a teen mentor in the poetry seminars for the last few years. Tori represents the ultimate writing model for other children —intelligent, compassionate, encouraging; the list of adjectives could go on and on. She will be attending Simmons this fall and will be sorely missed. A special thanks to Margaret, who has been so supportive of everyone involved in the writing programs over the past five years; she is always there with a kind word, some refreshments, and a positive attitude!

And don’t want to leave out the names of the members of the Writing Programs — Donna Renzulli, Georgia Monaghan, Julie Stern, Lisa Rendak, Philip Kotch, and Wally Wood, plus Andrea Zimmermann (research librarian) is who is also very helpful.

On another note, I would like to applaud the summer reading program led by Alana Benneson, the children’s department librarian. The library will be filled with children all summer long who love to read books and share their comments with each other and older youngsters who act as mentors.

So I am asking all the patrons who enter the library to make sure they thank the dedicated staff that makes our library the focal point of Newtown.

Sincerely.

Elizabeth Arneth

4 Settlers Lane, Sandy Hook                                          June 16, 2009