The poster image of School Superintendent Dr. Walter Schartner holding an oversized Sayville Library card was widely distributed throughout Sayville and West Sayville as part of the Sayville Library’s January Library Card Campaign. Upon the Library’s invitation, Dr. Schartner challenged all district schools and encouraged the students, teachers, parents, and residents of the Sayville School District to participate.

Since the goal to increase the library’s membership would also encourage reading, it made perfect sense to include the entire school district in the appeal. Making this campaign more fun and exciting, the Sayville library held a raffle for all classes that achieved 100% participation. Classes that reached 100% participation were entered into a raffle for a chance to win a pizza party. Along with being entered into the raffle, each class that achieved 100% participation received mood pencils.

Once the campaign ended, Donna DiBerardino, Head of Youth Services at Sayville Library, announced the four winners picked from the classes that competed: At Cherry Avenue, Mrs. Hitner’s Fifth grade earned the pizza party; at Sunrise Drive, Mr Paniccia’s Third grade earned the pizza party, (pies donated by Sayville Pizza) and at the Middle School, Mrs. Rooney’s Advisory and Mrs. Toth’s Advisory classes submitted together, so both were winners: Both Advisories will receive coupons (donated by Sal's Pizza) for a free slice of pizza.

In addition, Donna DiBerardino expressed thanks to all the other teachers and school librarians for their efforts, which included Alison McDermott, School Media Specialist, Kateri Volpe, School Media Specialist, Cherry Avenue Grade 3 (Mrs. K. Donnelly), Cherry Avenue Grade 3 (Mrs. Fulton), Cherry Avenue Grade 4 (Mrs. Cummings), Sunrise Drive Grade 4, (Mrs. Norman), Sunrise Drive Grade 4

(Mr. Frank), Sunrise Drive Grade 4, (Mrs. S. Donnelly), and Sunrise Drive Grade 5

(Mrs. Carpenter), Sunrise Drive Grade 5

Sayville Library Director Alice Lepore was pleased with the success of this first collaboration with Sayville schools since the Library’s relocation at 88 Greene Avenue. Among the 165 new applications in January, 88 (coincidentally) were children and teens as a result of the campaign.

A second collaboration has already been launched; Sayville Reads—One Friendly Town, which could become an annual event. Two more partnerships with Sayville Schools include Sayville student artworks, which are currently in the March display case, and the upcoming event in April:  Open Mic Night of Poetry Readings, to be emceed by English Department Chair Edward Schmeider. Mrs. Lepore attributes the increasing “opportunities for collaboration with Sayville Schools” in part, to the proximity of the Greene Avenue location which has encouraged students to make more frequent casual visits. To learn more about Sayville Library, to utilize library services, or to view videos, go to sayvillelibrary.org .