By Dirk Langeveld

SOUTHPORT – The Books for Teachers program at Pequot Library has grown again this year, directly donating to local schools for the first time.

Library staff and volunteers visited three public elementary schools in Bridgeport in October and November, bringing with them thousands of books for students in Pre-K through sixth grade. Each child at the Beardsley School, Hallen School, and Bryant School perused the available volumes and selected two to keep.

Traditionally, the Books for Teachers program has sought to connect reading materials with children who might otherwise have limited access to them. Educators in qualifying communities can receive a $100 voucher to make purchases at the Pequot Library’s annual summer sale, which has more than 500,000 items spanning 50 categories. The library further supports the program through efforts that include a teachers-only shopping period and designated teachers’ books.

Educators have used the books for varying purposes, including supplementing curricula, stocking school libraries, providing rewards for student achievement, and gifting books to students at the end of the school year.

Established in 2003, the Books for Teachers program is funded through the support of the Renee B. Fisher Foundation. Initially limited to teachers in the Bridgeport and New Haven school systems, it was expanded in 2022 to include those serving the Ansonia and Derby schools as well as select schools in Norwalk and Stratford.

The Pequot Library hopes to expand the impact of the Books for Teachers program by personally visiting the schools it supports.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to put books directly into students’ hands,” said John Kofron, Pequot Library’s Youth Services Librarian. “We’re deeply grateful to the Renée B. Fisher Foundation for supporting this wonderful initiative; it’s a privilege and a joy to be part of it.”

“This program starts with our community members finding a good home for their no-longer needed children’s books,” said Doug Fried, organizer of the summer book sale. “The library has benefited from being able to offer these for sale in our book sales and now also by delivering them to needy kids with the support of the Fisher Foundation. The kids benefit by being able to choose books which will be cherished and enhance their joy for learning. The thrill of seeing the joy in the faces of the kids is personally the biggest win.”

The Pequot Library plans to visit an additional three schools in 2026.

Expanded coverage of Fairfield County cultural events is made possible with support from the Fairfield University Quick Center for the Arts.