Bruins Summer Reading Prizes Awarded
September 15, 2015
Celeste Bruno
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x208
celeste.bruno@state.ma.us
Just in time for the Boston Bruins' first preseason game, young readers across the Commonwealth received Bruins prizes for their participation in statewide summer reading programs at public libraries.
Prizes include at-game experiences like riding the Zamboni, high-fiving the players as they take the ice, and getting to sit on the Bruins bench during pregame warm-ups. Team-signed Bruins jerseys and Bruins pucks signed by Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask were also awarded. "It's a great way to encourage kids to keep reading," said one librarian.
Librarians from across the state were asked to submit names for the random prize drawing. In all, 27 children and teens from the following libraries received prizes:
Grand Prize Winners
Zamboni game experience: Wilmington Public Library
High-Five game experience: Forest Park Branch of the Springfield City Library
Bench Assistant game experience: Paul Pratt Memorial Library, Cohasset
Team-Signed Bruins Jersey
Porter Memorial Library, Blandford
Chicopee Public Library
Haverhill Public Library
Hopkinton Public Library
Lakeville Public Library
Northborough Public Library
Salisbury Public Library
Hazen Memorial Library, Shirley
Sutton Public Library
Tuukka Rask-Signed Bruins Puck
Amesbury Public Library
Dedham Public Library
Erving Public Library
Millicent Library, Fairhaven
Florida Public Library
Harvard Public Library
Randolph Public Library
Reading Public Library
Seekonk Public Library
Sunderland Public Library
Tyngsborough Public Library
Westborough Public Library
Westport Public Library
Weston Public Library
Westwood Public Library
The Boston Bruins began partnering with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) in 2009 and have been active participants in libraries' efforts to encourage young people to read.
In addition to supporting summer reading at libraries across the state, Bruins players worked with libraries to develop the Bruins Favorites reading list that includes favorite books from Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask, and more. The Bruins' mascot Blades also makes special library visits during the summer months. This summer, Blades visited libraries in Yarmouth, Shirley, Agawam, Lee, Great Barrington, and Duxbury.
In 2014 over 400,000 children, teens, and adults participated in summer reading events, programs, and workshops held at libraries across the Commonwealth. Since 2007, Massachusetts has also offered statewide online summer reading. Participants register, write book reviews, set goals, and track their progress online. Massachusetts was the first state in the country to offer such a program.
The Bruins' financial support of the statewide summer reading program, along with federal Library Technology and Services Act (LSTA) funding from the MBLC and MLS, has allowed libraries to receive summer reading materials at no cost.
About MBLC
The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.