West Seneca community partners are pitching in to supply free books for summer reading through the Reading Rover Free Book Tour 2022.
West Seneca’s school librarians had no sooner announced the dates for the summer 2022 Reading Rover Free Book Tour, when the donations started coming in. The West Seneca Police Benevolent Association, West Seneca Woman’s Club, West Seneca Teachers Association, West Seneca School Administrators Association and The Teacher’s Desk have all donated either books or dollars to the cause. Local company A to Z Books is also donating new books and allowing the school district to purchase some books at cost.
Library Coordinator Rosalia Carraba said that the program, funded by the district, affords children a free book every time they visit the Rover, a school bus that is temporarily retrofitted to be a library on wheels when school is out. The dream is to have a dedicated van someday.
“In addition to free books, we encourage children to get a public library card so they have constant access to new books to read. We want to remove all barriers to access to books over the summer.” She points out that district families and staff also have access to the Sora app, which has thousands of books and magazines in partnership with West Seneca Central Schools and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.
The Reading Rover book giveaway will begin at noon at Fireman’s Park on July 12, followed by Harlem Road Park from noon to 2 p.m. on July 14, Veterans Park from noon to 2 p.m. on July 19, the Farmers’ Market from 4 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 18, and West Senior Stadium from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 21. All times and dates can be seen on the front page of the district’s website at wscschools.org.
There will be another Reading Rover event, exclusive to incoming kindergartners, on Aug. 24 at the West Seneca Soccer Complex, when “On My Way to K!” welcomes all new K students with free books and many other things they will need to begin their first day of their first year ready and eager!
