Moorestown Library Receives State Recognition

Moorestown Library was one of four libraries in New Jersey honored last week for its early literacy programs.

New Jersey State Librarian Mary Chute presented the awards for Best Practices in Early Literacy last Wednesday at the New Jersey Library Association Annual Conference.

Library director Joe Galbraith said the award was a true honor and heaped praise on Jennifer Dunne, Moorestown's principal librarian for children's services.

Galbraith said Dunne took it upon herself to evaluate all of the children's programs when she started working for the library several years ago. Dunne found the library's weakest spot was its lack of programs for very young readers, he said, and she went about instituting a number of early literacy initiatives—including Baby Story Time and a library care package for new mothers and their children.

"They've been very popular," said Galbraith. "I'm very proud of the fact that she was recognized at the state level for this." 

The winning libraries were:

• Moorestown Public Library for the "Summer Reading is for Everyone!" Program
• Alfred H. Baumann Public Library, West Paterson, for the "Baby Tales Lapsit" Program
• Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library Lake Hiawatha Branch for the "Sensory Storytime" Program
• Princeton Public Library for the "Library in a Box" program

Each library received a $500 award presented by Sharon Rawlins, youth services consultant for the New Jersey State Library.

Information provided by the New Jersey State Library