Pictured is Bemus Point Library, where an event recognizing the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The library system is being recognized for its “Road Trip” program.
Submitted photo
BEMUS POINT — The Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System’s recent “Road Trip” project will be recognized during an upcoming event at Bemus Point Library.
All 38 of the libraries in the system will be awarded the Literacy Chair Award by Judith’s Reading Room — a nonprofit organization out of Lehigh Valley, Pa., that works to highlight literacy around the nation. The award itself is fairly new and recognizes the work of the library system and its “Road Trip” project.
LJ Martin, outreach coordinator and youth consultant for CCLS, said the project encourages local communities to come out and visit their libraries.
“It started in June and ends at the end of August,” Martin said. “It encourages everyone to visit as many libraries as they can. People get a free map and a sticker at each library they visit goes on that map. After a certain number of libraries, they get a prize.”
Cathy and Scott Leiber, the co-founders of Judith’s Reading Room, heard about the project when they were visiting Bemus Point Library while on vacation. The “Road Trip” project began last year, and Martin said they decided to do it again this summer. The Leibers then decided to award CCLS when they heard it would continue.
Martin said being recognized in this way means a lot for the program.
“We are proud because it is an acknowledgement of our communitywide project that we put on,” Martin said. “It shows the importance of reading, writing and literacy all wrapped up into one program.”
The event will be held at Bemus Point Library at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15. Bemus Point Library Director Shannon Donovan will be presented with a sculpture
Kirsten Engstrom, who made the sculpture as part of the Literacy Chair Award, will also be recognized. Engstrom’s work can also be seen at Chautauqua Institution.
Martin encouraged everyone to come out to the event to help celebrate a local library director and the “Road Trip” program. Free maps will be available for those interested in starting their own “Road Trip.”
“It’s great to know the library system is in the conversation, and the community response has been positive for our communitywide program,” Martin said.
She added, “Come check out the libraries. See what is going on and what we continue to do.”
