NORWICH – The Books Open Opportunities for Kids to Succeed (BOOKS) program, a collaboration of Senator Tom Libous and Morrisville State College, has awarded $1,000 to the Guernsey Memorial Library to fund summer and yearlong programs.

BOOKS Director Tia Zink stated, “The library may have the greatest collection of books in the world, but if kids don’t see it as a fun and inviting place, we aren’t going to get them through the doors. In addition to the programming grants we also provide grants to the libraries to purchase new children’s books. Since the average children’s book only stays in print five to seven years, it is important that the newest books be available in order to maintain a child’s interest.”

These funds will assist with the 2013 program Bells and Motley’s Bawshou and the Dragon. The money will also help out with supplies for the making of a dragon mask, a hands-on part of the Bells and Motley program, described as participatory Chinese folktale performance.