NYCHA Receives 50,000 Books for Children

As one of the awardees in National Book Foundation’s Book Rich Environment Initiative, NYCHA received 50,000 new books for children in developments across the five boroughs.

As one of the awardees in National Book Foundation’s Book Rich Environment Initiative, NYCHA received 50,000 new books for children in developments across the five boroughs.
 
On June 12 at Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center at Johnson Houses in East Harlem, a kick-off event was held that included story-time for the youngest community members (ages 0-5), large-scale book “shopping” for elementary and middle-school aged residents, and a reading and book signing with National Book Award winner, Jeanne Birdsall, children’s author of The Penderwicks series.
 
Six more distribution events were held in June and July in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, to connect NYCHA residents with new books and library cards.
 
The collaboration between the National Book Foundation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will distribute a total of 270,000 books to 36 housing communities across the country.