Kids Send Cheer

"Merry Christmas Beatrice" says this card, created by a fourth grade art student at one of six Queens Village schools and/or a young patron of the Queens Village branch of the Queens Borough Public Library. The cards are being sent to homebound customers of the library Mail-A-Book program with reading or audio-visual materials they have requested by the youngsters, members of the library Holiday Pen Pal Club. The Queens Borough Public Library is putting a little something special in with reading and/or audio-visual materials its homebound Mail-A-Book customers have requested this season: a handmade holiday greeting from one of the neighborhood children.

The greetings were the inspiration of Madlyn Schneider, library Mail-A-Book coordinator. The Queens Library mails free reading and audio/visual materials to nearly 600 homebound residents. Schneider wanted to add a more personal touch for the holiday season for customers with whom the library corresponds but never gets to meet. She formed the Holiday Pen Pal club and invited fourth grade art students from Our Lady of Lourdes, P.S. 18, P.S. 33, P.S. 34 and P.S. 135, and Merrick Academy Charter School, all in Queens Village, as well as the many children who regularly use the Queens Library branch at Queens Village, 94-11 217th St., to participate.

More than 700 children donated their creative talents. Children's Librarian Erin Gleason read each card and is mailing them to recipients. All the Mail-A-Book customers will receive a special treat with their books this season. The overflow of good cheer will be sent to three area nursing homes.

The Queens Library provides free Mail-A-Book service to anyone who is medically unable to come to the library. Anyone who would like to receive books by mail can call 718-776-6800.

The Queens Borough Public Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library. The library serves a population of 2.2 million in the most ethnically diverse county in the U.S. With a record 21 million items in circulation for Fiscal Year 2007, the library has the highest circulation of any public library system in the U.S. and one of the highest circulations in the world. For more information about programs, services, locations, events and news, visit www.queenslibrary.org or call 718-990- 0700.