The Tuscarawas County Library trust provides books for babies
Dover residents Robert and Angel Vestal and their newborn daughter Lilith pose with TCPL children’s customer service assistant Grace Stewart at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital.
The Tuscarawas County Public Library continued its efforts this year to provide books for babies through its First Steps to Literacy: Books for Babies trust fund.
The trust was established in 2008 by former New Philadelphia native Betty Lou Honaker, who wished to provide books to newborn babies in Tuscarawas County each year. With the trust, this year the library was able to provide 172 books to babies born at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital with 86 of those books being bilingual.
“We have a wonderful partnership with Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital,” said Mary Smrek, children’s services manager. “We were able to provide more books this year than last, and with future donations and growth of the fund, we hope to give away more books in the coming years.”
The trust was established with the hope to sustain this project for many years. Each year 90% of the interest income is used to purchase books for newborns while the remaining interest income and trust fund is reinvested for use in future years.
“Betty Lou lived her life dedicated to reading, learning, children and libraries. She was a special lady,” Director Michelle McMorrow Ramsell said. “With the passing of Betty Lou in 2022, we are honored as a library to continue her mission by putting books in the hands and homes of area children.”
Visit www.tusclibrary.org/support or call McMorrow Ramsell at 330-364-4474 ext. 237.