CHENANGO COUNTY – The BOOKS (Books Open Opportunities for Kids to Succeed) program, a partnership between NY State Senator Fred Akshar of Binghamton and Morrisville State College, recently awarded $7,500 in grant funding to 25 libraries scattered throughout Broome, Delaware, Chenango and Tioga counties.

Program funding is made available to local libraries in an effort to initiate, enhance and expand children's reading.

Each of the 25 libraries were awarded $300 for the purchase of new children's books and cultivate new and exciting programs that make the library a fun place for children to visit.

Marcia Miller, who has served as the regional representative for the Sen. Libous BOOKS Program for more than 15 years, said, “Every library in Chenango County is a part of the BOOKS program. Those libraries each get $300 annually in the form of a grant which they use to invest into the children's collections within the library.”