Neighbors Read program expands in Olmsted County

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May 10, 2016
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
For release: May 10, 2016
                  
Contact: Heather Acerro, Head of Youth Services at hacerro@rochester.lib.mn.us or 507.328.2339
Karen Lemke, Head of Marketing and Community Engagement at (970) 946-2527
 
 
Neighbors Read program expands in Olmsted County
 
(Rochester) A program that provides mini-libraries in Rochester is planning a big expansion in Olmsted County this year.
 
Rochester Public Library is launching “Neighbors Read: Olmsted County” this month, to provide additional mini-libraries outside the city of Rochester.
 
The Neighbors Read program started in 2013 out of a partnership with the United Way of Olmsted County and the Rochester Public Library. Originally, 13 mini-libraries were installed in the Slatterly Park area, but that has now grown to over 120 throughout Rochester. The program received a big boost in 2015, then the Leadership Greater Rochester class took the initiative on as their own project.
 
Coordinator of the program, Jon Allen, says the library and the Friends of the Rochester Public Library have donated over 20,000 books to the mini-libraries since 2013. “Everyone who registers with the Neighbors Read program can receive books free-of-charge to keep their mini-libraries stocked,” says Allen.
 
The library is currently accepting applications for 30 new mini-libraries in the following areas:
 
 
Byron
Cascade
Chester
Cummingsville
Douglas
Dover
Elmira
Eyota
Farmington
Genoa
Haverhill
High Forest
Kalmar
Marion
New Haven
Orion
Oronoco
Pleasant Grove
Post Town
Potsdam
Predmore
Quincy
Ringe
Rock Dell
Salem
Salem Corners
Shanty Town
Simpson
Viola
 

 
Residents living in these areas can contact Jon Allen at 507-328-2353 for application materials.
 
For more information about the Neighbors Read program, visit the library’s website at: http://bit.ly/neighborsreadOLM. 
Contact:
Karen Lemke, Head of Marketing and Community Engagement
klemke@rochester.lib.mn.us, (507) 328-2343