ARTICLES

St. Anne School Library gets endowment for program

St. Anne Catholic School in Bristol is the recipient of a generous gift from Francis MacFarlane to be used as an endowment to fund the annual Judith Rosenfeld Author’s Day program.

In appreciation, the St. Anne School Library is being dedicated as the Francis MacFarlane Library. Mr. MacFarlane was presented with a plaque stating this dedication, and a reception was recently given in his honor.

The Author’s Day Program is named in memory of the school’s former librarian, Judith Rosenfeld, who instituted this program in 1993. Authors who have visited the school include Newbery Medal winners Madeleine L’Engle, Jean Craighead George and Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gerstein, as well as Joseph Bruchac, Molly Bang and Ashley Bryan.

On Author’s Day, the visiting author speaks in a formal setting with grade-level groupings of students. All students have read at least one of the author’s books prior to the visit. Each student individually meets the author as books are personally signed. The program is meant to have an impact on the students and encourages them in their reading and writing.

Diane Stanley will be the author visiting St. Anne School next April 28–29. She is the author of a number of award-winning biographies including Michelangelo, Peter the Great, and Saladin. Her novels include Bella at Midnight, The Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine, and A Time Apart. Ms. Stanley has also written a number of picture books for younger readers, including Goldie and the Three Bears, Saving Sweetness, and Raising Sweetness.

Plans are under way to include an afternoon presentation with community children in cooperation with the Bristol Public Library as well as continuing the evening dinner program for area librarians and educators.

back to top