East Holmes teachers donate to Friends of Library
East Holmes Teachers Association members Kari Kaufman, left, and Megan Mullet presented Friends of Library of Holmes County co-chairs Betty McNutt, center, and Carol Norman, right, with a check for more than $3,000. Joining them is Holmes County District Public Library Director Paula Cicconetti.
A change in the East Holmes Teachers Association’s contract negotiations two years ago led to a windfall for the Holmes County District Public Library, and on Monday, Nov. 21, two key members of EHTA presented a check to the library that will allow the library to reinvest in the children.
Berlin Elementary teachers and EHTA President Megan Mullet and treasurer Kari Kaufman met with Holmes County Friends of Library co-chairs Carol Norman and Betty McNutt along with Holmes County District Public Library Director Paula Cicconetti when the East Holmes Teachers Association presented the Friends of Library with a donation of $3,425.08.
“Two years ago, through negotiations, the teachers association ended up having an excess account we no longer needed, and we didn’t need the money that was donated by certified and classified staff that would have been an account established about 30 years ago,” Mullet said.
The group could have placed the funds back into the teachers association, but realizing not everyone who contributed remained part of the association, they wanted to make sure the funds went to an organization that benefited in the biggest way.
“We as an organization wanted to extend those funds out into the community in a meaningful way,” Mullet said.
After discussion, they took an idea back to the voting members, giving them the option to donate it to the Friends of the Library of Holmes County or the Holmes County Education Foundation for a teacher scholarship.
“With how spread out we are, we wanted something that connected with all of the buildings in the East Holmes District, and the other stipulation was that it had to be a nonprofit organization,” Mullet said.
An overwhelming majority of the staff voted to present it to the library, for children’s books and to benefit the library.
Kaufman said the idea of benefiting young students and helping them pursue their reading skills was enticing to many of the teachers, and both teachers have their own personal memories of taking their own children to the Bookmobile. She also said she has seen so many children at Chestnut Ridge utilize the Bookmobile’s services.
“We hope this money helps inspire other parents to benefit from the Bookmobile and library,” Mullet said.
In accepting the large check, both members of the Friends of Library were thrilled to create this new partnership they hope will continue to grow and prosper as they find ways to work together to enhance reading opportunities for young people.
“We try to provide funds to the library to cover items the library wouldn’t normally have in their budget but would enhance what they offer,” Norman said.
Cicconetti said one area the library will use the funds is in purchasing additional Vox Books, innovative children’s audio books that not only allow a child to read the books, but also allows an audio reading to be added that reads the story for younger children. They can follow along, and the audio even tells them when to turn the page.
“Each book has a built-in digital player that walks early readers or kids who struggle reading through the book,” Cicconetti said.
She said these books also can aid in helping Amish, Hispanic and growing Ukrainian youth further their English skills.
“This money will help us expand our ability to further educate kids and provide reading material in every community in the district,” Cicconetti said. “This type of support is significant for us. We love hearing how much the children enjoy the Bookmobile, and developing and growing our Vox Books library is something that wasn’t in our budget, so this is wonderful feedback from the educators that they are supporting the things they believe are making a difference and an impact on their students. Let’s hope this makes a lasting impact on our children.”
Friends of Library is a group of 140 members who desire to aid the library in any way possible. That support is critical for the library, and Norman said this check will serve as seed money that will help them create additional programs outside of the library’s general budget.
“That’s our purpose,” Norman said. “We have an amazing library in Holmes County, and we all believe it is important to do what we can to support the library’s effort to further our children’s education through reading.”
Norman said reading leads to greater awareness and opportunities in children, which is why the members feel so strongly about supporting the effort of the library.
Anyone wishing to join the Friends of Library group can do so by calling Cicconetti at 330-674-5972 ext. 201.