Kelley Library Partners with Intergenerational Collaborative

Kelley Library is pleased to be a part of the Intergenerational Collaborative of Salem (ICS). ICS is made up of Salem organizations interested in finding opportunities for different generations to understand, respect, and support each other. ICS is always looking for new ways to connect - and one of the simplest opportunities is to connect through reading. For example, retirees and young students have been brought together as folks visit classrooms to read aloud.

Over the years, various groups have worked together to complete reading-related projects. Little Libraries were built by Salem High School students and painted by the Salem Artists Association. These 4 seasonally-themed Little Libraries were dedicated to the late ICS founding member, Cindy Jury. A project that will be wrapping up shortly is the Rocking Chair Project. Kelley Library has already received their hand painted rocking chair and St. Joseph Regional Catholic School will receive their rocking chair during an end of the year event. Rocking chairs are a great symbol of reading to children, and the one at the Library is used by parents/caregivers and kids every day!

If you would like to learn more or become a volunteer, please attend this end of school year event “Reading Roundup”. See the flyer for details. Other members of ICS are Birches Academy of Academics & Art, Ingram Senior Center, Greater Salem Area Women’s Club, Member-at-large, Residence at Salem Woods, Salem Artists Association, Salem Boys & Girls Club, Salem Council on Aging, Salem Family Resources (TLC: The Learning Collaborative), and Silverthorne Adult Daycare. The ICS mission is to collaborate in fostering an age-integrated community that supports purposeful engagement between generations.