A community project aimed at encouraging reading for pleasure and building relationships has earned kudos for a learning specialist at Genesee Community College.
Sue Chiddy, of Elba, was honored recently by the Nioga Library System for her efforts to engage GCC with the public library initiative called "A Tale for Three Counties." The outreach project encourages people to read a chosen book, discuss it with friends and neighbors at local libraries or in chance meetings on the street, and then meet the author at the conclusion of the program.
It was launched by public libraries in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties nine years ago, and Chiddy brought the college onboard in 2005. Her efforts earned her Nioga's Outreach Award, which was given to her during the Nioga Board of Trustee's annual dinner last month at Terry Hills Banquet Facility in Batavia.
Chiddy helps GCC students embrace reading for pleasure through the college's developmental reading classes. She says "A Tale for Three Counties" is a dynamic and motivating program that she hopes instills the value of reading in her students, and motivates them to build relationships by discussing what they've read with classmates and neighbors.
"I am honored to receive the award, but I feel honored every time I notice students, faculty and staff reading the year's selected 'Tale for Three Counties' book," Chiddy said. "It's a pleasure to see the college community participating in the community at large."
The award, which includes a $75 honorarium to be used for the purchase of library materials to further outreach goals, is granted to nominees who show a commitment to providing library services to populations that have limited access to such services.
This past year, GCC's participation included the reading of Yannick Murphy's "The Call," which details the life of a small town veterinarian. Instructors in 21 of GCC's classes used the book as a learning resource and the library distributed more than 400 copies.
