'Substantial Donation' Will Enhance Troy Library's Children's Special Needs Collection

Christmas came early at the in the form of a substantial donation from employees and private individuals.

The $2,331 donation, combined with an additional $300 donation from the Friends of the Troy Public Library, will be used for a collection of materials and equipment to enhance the library’s Special Needs collection.

Specifically, the money will be used to purchase large-print materials, including novels for children ages 8-12, non-fiction books on visual impairments and magnifiers to assist in reading. The materials will help children who have visual impairments such as albinism, dyslexia, ADHD, traveling eye, an inability to see color, and more.

The initiative for the project came from a group of southeast Michigan businesswomen representing Meritor, Henry Ford Health Systems, GM and Inforum.  These women are part of a leadership class that included a community service project. 

"Our project was to increase awareness and social acceptance of children with albinism. As we interacted with them, we were touched by the vision difficulties that is common with these beautiful children," Meritor Engineering Supervisor Laura Klemm said. "Armed with pictures and stories, it was easy to appeal to the generosity of the Meritor community and other private donors."

“This donation is incredible,” Library Director Cathleen Russ said. “It is amazing what this group of people have been able to accomplish, and the entire Troy community will benefit from their generosity.”

The library’s special needs collection was implemented in October 2007 – a gift of the Friends of the Troy Public Library. It includes traditional library materials such as books and DVDs, as well as interactive items that children with disabilities can use to enhance and promote learning and skill-building.  

To introduce the community to the new collection, the library has planned a story time event for pre-schoolers through second-grade students on Jan. 21 at 11:15 a.m. Following the story time, individuals can tour the new collection. The library staff hopes to continue this story time in the future, if there is interest from the community.

“We will publicize this collection to the community, especially to the special needs teachers in the and other school districts where Troy children attend school," Russ said. "We are very fortunate to be able to offer these materials, thanks to this wonderful donation."

The preceding information was submitted by Troy Public Library Director Cathy Russ.