Jan. 31, 2009 — "Reading is everything — reading is life" was the chant that rang out from the children's room Saturday at the Florence Williams Public Library in celebration of African-American literature at the African American Read-In.
Sharon Charles, president of the St. Croix Reading Council, led the chant that continued "Read for enjoyment — read to be bright."
More than a million people across the country are expected to participate in this, the 20th annual read-in, from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28.
Twenty-eight children, parents and public school librarians took part in a tour and listened to readings at the Christiansted library. Students also signed up for library cards.
"It is exciting to see little people here learning about all kinds of knowledge at their fingertips," said Susan Allick, president of the St. Croix Library Association. "It is very helpful to give an overview of all the resources available."
Zoraida Jacobs, reading campaign coordinator for the Department of Education and member of the Friends of St. Croix Public Libraries, led the tour beginning at the circulation desk, telling children they can get library information from the librarians there.
Jacobs asked the children how to take care of books. The students, who were very quiet and well behaved, answered, "Don't eat and drink while reading," and "Make sure your little brothers and sisters don't mess them up."
"I am really proud they answered so many questions correctly," Jacobs said.
The tour continued to the third floor where the Caribbean Collection is kept in a climate controlled room.
Ingrid A. Bough, territorial director of libraries, archives and museums, told the children why the books were behind glass.
"They are delicate and old books," Bough said. "We may be the last to have a copy of the book, and we must take good care of it. We are the guardians and protectors of our heritage. It is important to pass information down leaving something for the future."
"This helped me become interested in reading more," said Jailine Manon, a fifth grader at Juanita Gardine Elementary School.
The children then went to Bough's office where she showed them rare old sepia photographs of the library when it was a school.
The children were all ears when Winifred "Oyoko" Loving, a retired 30-year educator from Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School, read her book "My Name is Freedom." The book was about three sisters with the names Freedom, Unity and Justice. The story tells children about the importance of their names and why their names may have been chosen by their parents. Loving had a hat and pin as prizes for the first two children to put up their hands and correctly say what the girls' names were. Sisters Kamilah and Jeneida Donawa students from Lew Muckle Elementary were the winners.
"This was a great turnout for the kick-off," said Sarah Mahurt, director of curriculum assessment and technology at the Department of Education. "The librarians will take this back to schools and promote the Read-In that runs through the month of February."
The Read-In was sponsored by the Education Department's Division of Curriculum, Assessment and Technology and in collaboration with the St. Croix Library Association, the St. Croix Reading Council, V.I. Writing Project and the Friends of St. Croix Public Libraries. Nationally the event is sponsored by the Black Caucus of National Council of Teachers of English and has also been endorsed by the International Reading Association.
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