Elementary School Opens Long-Awaited Library

Lorne Street Elementary School on Thursday celebrated the opening of its new library, complete with fully stacked shelves and two computers.

It’s a big deal on campus because, less than a year ago, a classroom with mostly outdated books scattered on half-empty shelves served as the school’s library.

It was a sad sight that fueled Principal Rob Fishman’s campaign to get a “real library.”

He wrote letters to about 200 companies asking for donations to buy books and offered an engraved brass plaque crediting the benefactor beneath each shelf.

“I got a lot of polite thanks-but-no-thanks letters,” Fishman said.

Then, in a last-ditch effort, he tried the media. Fishman wrote a letter to The Times, which led to a story in the Book Review section describing the library’s dismal state.

In a few months a total of $25,000 was donated by a variety of companies and private residents who wanted to help. Among the donors are Friskies Pet Care, Northrop Grumman Co. and Candid Camera Inc.

“It was just amazing,” Fishman said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

The money bought not only 7,000 new books and much-needed furniture, but also provided funding to hire three librarians.

“It’s so great to have a library right here,” said Gustavo Perez, 10. “The first book I’m going to check out is for a social studies project.”