The Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills (JLOSH) held a grand opening for the newly renovated toddler area at the East Orange Public Library on March 31, thanks to a $40,000 grant awarded by the Junior League in 2009. The project was made possible by the generosity of many donors who supported the League’s 95^th anniversary gala in 2008 and the continued support of Junior League volunteers.  

More than two dozen toddlers attended the event along with their family members. They participated in a spring-themed story time led by Elizabeth Duncan Pederson who was President of JLOSH in 2009 when EOPL received the grant. The children also decorated bird houses and received free books to take home. 

The Junior League donation provided new furniture, interactive computers known as Early Literacy Stations, a hand painted wall mural by Karen Frost Olmsted of Basking Ridge, and construction of the space. “Our vision was to create a warm and welcoming environment for children to foster a lifelong love of books,” said JLOSH President Katherine Eklund. “We hope this area will continue to promote the legacy of literacy within our communities.” 

“With the help of the Junior League, the East Orange Public Library has been able to carve out a special area of the building and dedicate it to the youngest of our Library customers,” added East Orange Library Director Carolyn Ryan Reed.  “It is our vision that this will be the beginning of an enduring and loving relationship that these children develop with the Library and what they can learn here in their lifetime.” 

Additionally, throughout the month of March, JLOSH held a book drive and book swap that resulted in over 16,000 books that were donated to the East Orange and Orange Public Libraries as well as the newly renovated Book Pantry at the Cleveland Street Elementary School in Orange. The books were delivered and sorted by JLOSH members.

Every year, JLOSH members work together to tackle critical needs of women and children in the communities of East Orange, Orange, South Orange, West Orange, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Short Hills and Springfield. Founded in 1913, JLOSH reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins. Its purpose is purely educational and charitable. To learn more about JLOSH, visit www.JLOSH.org.

A gateway to knowledge, the East Orange Public Library helps people of all ages meet their informational, educational, and recreational needs through professionally selected print and non-print resources. For further information about this and other programs, please visit the Library’s website at www.eopl.org or contact the Library Department at 973-266-7049.