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Schools

Light Up a Library Connects Weho's Generations

Rosewood Avenue Elementary's library went from an unused, uninviting space to one where children discover the joy of reading, thanks to seniors from the National Council of Jewish Women.

In the early 1990s, a dark, messy room sat unused within  in West Hollywood. It was void of both light and people. Books—many old and torn—were strewn about on shelves. The space had been allocated as a library, but lack of funding prohibited staffing it.

Then, in 1998, the school was chosen by the National Council of Jewish Women’s Los Angeles Section (NCJW/LA) to serve as a template for a new program, Light Up a Library. With the help of private funding, donations and a grant from the city of West Hollywood, 25 NCJW/LA volunteers—two each day, every day—revitalized the Rosewood Elementary School Library. 

“We wanted to start a program at a school that served children from West Hollywood and surrounding communities,” said NCJW/LA Executive Director Hillary Selvyn. “It was a means of addressing the critical, unmet needs in underfunded Title 1 public schools, which were then, and remain, heavily populated by disadvantaged children.” 

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The volunteers purchased books to read to students. All of the school’s classes visited the library weekly for story times and independent reading. Children also were allowed to check books out—an unusual privilege at the time.

Former Principal Janet Chapman was thrilled that Rosewood was chosen to be the program's first outreach effort. “I have always believed that the library should be the heart of a school and ours was in a sorry state," she said.

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One of the original volunteers, Renee Weisenberg, had worked as a librarian for 16 years at the Pasadena Public Library. Her experience enabled her to suggest age-appropriate books, as well as provide training for both volunteers and the young students. 

“It is very important that children learn things like how to hold a book, how to take care of it and how to be responsible for returning it,” said Weisenberg. Now 80, she is the only remaining volunteer from the original group of 25. 

The ethnic and religious diversity of the classes has always been a special pleasure for Weisenberg. “If I’m reading a Russian folktale, for example,” she added, “there might be a Russian child in the classroom that can participate by explaining something that I’ve read.”

Weisenberg believes that all children should be read to, as it inspires them to pick up a book at home, or to check out a book from the library and read it for themselves. 

For Chapman, sharing life histories and experiences is one of the most enriching byproducts of intergenerational groups.

“Seniors have such a wealth of experiences and personal stories often flow out of the book that is being read,” she said. “The volunteers are trained to take advantage of that and it often creates an extraordinary dialogue with the students.”

Although not all of the volunteers have been older adults, Chapman believes that seniors have more patience with the younger children. "Bonds form that are just not seen between a 20-year-old and an 8-year-old,” she said.

To date, more than 35,000 children have been impacted by the Light Up a Library program, which has since expanded to four schools. 

“We inventoried, shelved and repaired, but the library didn’t come to life until the children came in,” volunteer Ruth Linden said. Thanks to ongoing commitments from NCJW/LA, West Hollywood and a small contingent of volunteers, they will keep on coming.

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