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E-mail This StoryREADING: "I think it's neat that they can dedicate a book," Hibbard said.
By Jim Kilpatrick, McKinney Courier-Gazette
A special book dedication was held at the Hall Memorial Library on Saturday.
The event was sponsored by local State Farm Insurance agent Josh Ragsdale, who donated $1,000 towards the purchase of new books for the new John and Judy Gay Library currently under construction at the Gabe Nesbitt Park at Eldorado Parkway and Alma Road.
Ragsdale said he was pleased to be a sponsor at the dedication.
"It's a good day for the kids to come out and recognize the library," Ragsdale, a McKinney resident, said. "I think this is an important day for the kids."
He added State Farm is backed him with some of the funding.
"They [State Farm] think this is an awesome idea," he said. "I'm trying to push the idea of reading forward."
Children of all ages selected books to be placed in the new library in their name. The children decorated a bookplate and signed it. The bookplate will be placed in the book they selected.
"A bookplate is a sticker that sticks in a book and shows who has donated the book," Library Director Beth Scudder said. "This dedication program will help to build our collection."
Kelli Phelan, a member of the library staff, was in charge of a fire prevention program for children that kicked off the event.
"I'm hoping the kids will learn about fire prevention and the dedication will generate a lot of excitement for the second library," Phelan said. "All of us here in the library are very excited about it."
The dedication program was held in the library story time room.
Angela Hibbard of McKinney and children Ashley, 9, and Lauren, 22 months, were at the library for the school age program, which they attend every month.
"I think it's neat that they can dedicate a book, which others will read in the future," Hibbard said. "Since the new library is not far from where we live, we can go there to check out the books they dedicated."
Merry Prather of McKinney and her children McKenna, 4, and Mason, 2, are on a mission when they go to the library.
"We come every Saturday to the library," Prather said. "My children and I are going to try to read the entire library before they are 10."
Prather was excited about the dedication event.
"I think that it's really neat," Prather said. "It's something in the long run, that will be neat when they are older and they kinda get it, that their name is in that book."
Those that did not attend the event can still donate by participating in the Bucks for Books program, Scudder said.
"We are always happy to have donations," Scudder said.
Contact Jim Kilpatrick at jkilpatrick@acnpapers.com
