Bruins Summer Prizes Awarded to Libraries
July 26, 2023
Celeste Bruno
Communications Director
6177251860
celeste.bruno@mass.gov
As part of “When You Read, You Score” the Boston Bruins awarded special prizes to participants in the statewide summer library program. Since 2009 the Boston Bruins have partnered with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) to encourage reading during the summer months. Since then, over four million people have participated in summer programs.
Prizes include at-game experiences like 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 and photographs signed by Bruins left winger Brad Marchand were also awarded. "It's a great incentive for kids to keep reading," said one librarian.
The prizes were awarded to the following libraries:
Grand Prize Winners
High Five game experience: Haverhill Public Library
Bench Assistant game experience: Thayer Memorial Library, Lancaster
High-five game experience: Middleborough Public Library
Team-Signed Bruins Jersey
Melrose Public Library
Bushnell-Sage Public Library, Sheffield
Walpole Public Library
Brad Marchand Signed Bruins Puck
Athol Public Library
Porter Memorial Library, Blandford
Emily Williston Memorial Library, Easthampton
Fitchburg Public Library
Boyden Library, Foxborough
Brooks Free Library, Harwich
Lakeville Public Library
Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy
Rockland Memorial Library
Somerset Public Library
Southborough Library
Goodnow Library, Sudbury
West Springfield Public Library
Vineyard Haven Public Library, Tisbury
Brad Marchand Signed Photographs
Public Library of Brookline
Paul Pratt Memorial Library, Cohasset
Millicent Library, Fairhaven
Georgetown Peabody Library
Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester
Norwell Public Library
Orange Public Libraries
Lawrence Library, Pepperell
Shrewsbury Free Public Library
Upton Town Library
Lucius Beebe Public Library, Wakefield
Beaman Memorial Public Library, West Boylston
Weymouth Public Libraries
Wilbraham Public Library
Worcester Public Library
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, Brad Marchand, Jeremy Swayman and more.
Throughout the summer, Boston Bruins mascot Blades will make visits to libraries across the state. Summer reading is critical in helping kids maintain reading skills while school is out. Studies show that children who read just four books over the summer fare better on reading comprehension tests in the fall than their peers who read one or no books over the summer.
The Boston Bruins' financial support of the statewide summer reading program, along with federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding from the MBLC and the Massachusetts Library System 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.