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Bronxville School Receives $35,000 Grant For Kindles

BRONXVILLE N.Y. - The Bronxville School library received a $35,000 grant from The Bronxville School Foundation to buy 90 Kindle eReader devices containing more than 400 books for students in grades 5-12. 

Bronxville School librarian Eileen Mann pushed for a $35,000 grant from The Bronxville School Foundation to buy 90 Kindle eReader devices containing more than 400 books.

Bronxville School librarian Eileen Mann pushed for a $35,000 grant from The Bronxville School Foundation to buy 90 Kindle eReader devices containing more than 400 books.

Photo Credit: Paul Bufano

Bronxville School librarian Eileen Mann said she was inspired to push for the eReaders because of how much more her students respond to technology these days.

"We started this initiative because there's now such a big push for everything electronic," Mann said. "Everything has to do with computers and the Internet these days, so we didn't want to be too far behind. I think that public libraries around the country have been incorporating eReaders into their programs for some time now, so it was about time we did too."

The Bronxville School Foundation solicits grants from requests by school staff and faculty, said executive director Peggy Williams.

"Eileen is very forward-thinking, and there's no question that technology is the wave of the future," Williams said. "She's heavily involved in the area and did a lot of research prior to putting together her request. There was a lot of communication about the available technology, and she ultimately recommended the Kindles. We were very supportive and grateful she's leading the school in the right direction."

The Kindles enable students to highlight important paragraphs and to look up unfamiliar words with its own dictionary. It also allows students to share notes electronically and even contains an audio device that can read passages aloud.

Seventh grade student Mina Petrovich, 12, said the Kindles are much easier to work with than traditional books.

"All my friends are into eReaders because it's what we have grown up with," Petrovich said. "Maybe it's not for everyone, but it's something that I wouldn't know what to do without. It doesn't strain my eyes and it’s nice to not have to carry so many books around with you. I'm very appreciative the school got them, and it’ll certainly make me read more.”

The Kindles make kids want to read more, which is the most important thing, Mann said.

"Being a librarian, there's nothing I love more than to sit down and get deep into a good book," Mann said. "Having said that, you have to change with the times. Who knows what the future will bring, but it's only going to get more electronic. This technology is definitely the wave of the future and I'm just so happy to be making our students prepared for whatever life will bring them."

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